Dear listener,

I've spent some of the week (in fact part of Thursday) putting all the data on MPs' expenses into a spreadsheet (and no I really don't have anything better or more interesting to do!). Here are some facts you won't read anywhere else. The total expenses claimed by all 646 MPs in 2007/08 amounted to £86,778,493 and most of that (about £56 million ) was spent on staff (and before you ask, generally not family members). The controversial second homes allowance (which is officially called Personal Additional Accommodation Expenditure) amounted to £11,584,454. Altogether, 153 MPs – about a quarter – claimed the maximum PAAE of £23,083 and the average among those who claimed was £19,769. There were 59 MPs who claimed nothing. But 24 of those were MPs for inner London constituencies who cannot claim the PAAE. Instead they get the £2,821 London Supplement (which has been replaced from April with the London Costs Allowance of £7,500). Another 24 outer London MPs (out of 49) chose to claim the London supplement rather than the PAAE. That leaves 11 who claimed nothing. But while we fulminate about changing lightbulbs, clearing moats, and some examples of venality we ask... well, see below

*** IN THE BEST RADIO PROGRAMME THIS SATURDAY ***

Despite creating £125bn of money out of thin air, the Bank of England insists that inflation will stay low for the foreseeable future. Others beg to differ and we have the pro and anti debate on Money Box.

The rates offered on the best savings accounts have begun to rise. You can get 4% now if you are prepared to tie your money up for five years. Are the green shoots beginning to blossom for those with cash to spare? We look at the best deals. And the pitfalls of getting back to high rates.

Is the Palace of Westminster the world's most exclusive tax haven? After all 646 people can be paid the equivalent of the average wage to buy homes, furnish them, and fill the fridge and larder without paying a penny in tax or National Insurance on the money. Why? And just what would it cost to pay them all the equivalent of £24,222 a year (the new level for this annual John Lewis voucher)with their pay?

Are credit card debts legally enforceable? A determined group of debtors - supported by an equally determined band of claims handlers helping them take legal action - say in many cases they are not. But should people escape their debts on a technicality? And is it really going to happen?

Plus another item which at the moment is under wraps. No, really, I can't even lift a corner...

..but find out who's who, what's what, where's where, why... well you get the picture, on Money Box, Saturday at noon (and repeated on Sunday at 9pm). Never miss a show again by subscribing to our podcast. Do that through our website bbc.co.uk/moneybox where you can also listen again, Have Your Say, watch videos, read why we are the Best Radio Programme and find out more about all the items on the programme. In April our web pages and stories were viewed more than half a million times.

Best wishes,

Paul

PS: Don't forget the programme taster on BBC Breakfast between quarter to nine and nine o'clock. If you miss it, you can watch it on our website.

e-mail Paul Lewis