The £430'000 life insurance policy of a government minister's husband was paid for through parliamentary expenses it has been revealed.

Ann Keen, the Health Minister and MP for Brentford and Isleworth, claimed £867 each month to cover the HSBC insurance policy despite both Keen and husband Alan being covered by their parliamentary pensions.

Keen and her husband, branded Mr and Mrs Expenses by the media, also paid for a mortgage on a £500'000 luxury flat in central London with taxpayer's money.

The Keen's extravagant spending was revealed after the release of Commons documents last week with disclosed the expense claims made by politicians.

The documents show that former Hartlepool MP, Peter Madelson, spent £3'000 on a new shower and Gordon Brown used his allowance to pay for a £9'000 kitchen refurbishment.

The practise of claiming life insurance payments on parliamentary expenses was banned by the House of Commons in 2003.