The DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson has repaid £555 after charging the taxpayer to watch dozens of pay-to-view films in London hotels. The Lagan Valley MP used his House of Commons second home allowance to pay for films almost every time he flew to London on parliamentary business between 2004-2005.

The revelations were published in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, the newspaper which has been going through every MPs’ expense claims during the last two months after paying £150,000 to a source.

It’s understood Mr Donaldson submitted second home claim forms, including receipts, relating to 68 pay-to-view movies.

The paper quoted hotel sources saying the films Mr Donaldson put on his expenses during 2004 and 2005 were in the highest price category offered to guests, a category which covers the latest blockbusters and adult movies.

In a statement, Mr Donaldson said he had not watched any content of an adult or pornographic nature, saying: “Such material was not viewed on the date alleged, or at all.”

All of the claims were paid by the Commons fees office.

According to Commons rules, MPs were only allowed to claim for items “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” relating to their parliamentary duties.

After being approached by the newspaper, Mr Donaldson and DUP sources confirmed he would repay costs relating to room service, mini-bars and “entertainment” from his hotel stays, totalling £678.90.

During 2004 and 2005, the MP stayed in London for two or three nights a week.

In 2005, he bought a flat in south London with fellow DUP MP Sammy Wilson and his hotel claims stopped.

Prior to the purchase his receipts showed that the films he claimed for ranged in price from £7.50 at the Marriot, County Hall, to £14.95 at the Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow Airport.

He was also billed for 30 films during his stays at the Jolly Hotel St Ermine near Westminster, at a cost of £7.95 a time and he put the £9.95 cost of watching films at Hilton Hotels on his expenses on four occasions.

When asked by the Daily Telegraph to explain the references to “Room Service 2” on his hotel bills, Mr Donaldson’s solicitor, John McBurney, said: “Clearly it is impossible to be precise in relation to each and every item. However, it would have been common practice to have used pay TV, including internet access and other media services.”

DUP leader Peter Robinson (left) said: “Mr Donaldson has been asked to pay back any expenses which have not been properly incurred and I understand that he intends to do so.”