The official publication of MPs’ expenses has not been the exercise in transparency lauded by members over the last few weeks.

The amount of information blacked out, or redacted, has meant that without the Daily Telegraph’s series of publications most of the outrageous claims would not have been uncovered, leaving the public in the dark.

Pembrokeshire’s MPs did not escape unscathed with Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb accused of ‘flipping’ his second home and Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South MP Nick Ainger claiming close to, or the full amount, £400, for food each month.

However, both MPs feel the redacted version of expenses has gone too far and that greater freedom of information should have been employed.

The addresses to which claims related were blacked out which would have meant the the practice of ‘flipping’ second homes would not have come to light, but Mr Crabb believes his claim for £9,300 stamp duty would have been queried and therefore the details would be uncovered.

Mr Crabb said: “The decision of the House of Commons Authority to black out the amount of information it did is appalling. Any member of the public going online, often all they are looking at are pages and pages of blacked out details, leaving them puzzled, confused and also suspicious.”

Mr Ainger cited the inclusion of Gordon Brown’s Sky TV claim on details released some months ago which has been removed from the documents released last week, saying it was not necessary.

“It adds to the concerns that people have that we are not being as open as we can. When the Parliamentary Standards Authority comes into being we will see a substantial change in redaction and people will have a lot more confidence in that,” added Mr Ainger.

Mr Ainger believes that the Daily Telegraph publication was right, despite concerns about how much was paid for leaked information.

“At the end of the day, this is a major issue of public concern and were right to use it,” he said.

This was echoed by Mr Crabb who said: “Parliament failed on several occasions to get serious about reform and as a result it probably needed something like this to smash open the system that has grown up over decades without public scrutiny.”