Chris Grayling has insisted he has fulfilled his pledge to repay the profit from his London flat following the Parliamentary expenses scandal, despite a claim that his office will not any provide evidence of this.

Epsom and Ewell’s Conservative MP since 2001, Mr Grayling came under fire in 2009 during the parliamentary expenses scandal for claiming taxpayers’ money for a flat in Westminster, even though his constituency home in Ashtead is less than 17 miles from the House of Commons.

In an article published on website politics.co.uk last month, Ian Dunt, cites an article in the Epsom Guardian from June 2009 in which Mr Grayling addresses claiming expenses for the London flat.

He said: "As a result of recent changes to the rules and the row over parliamentary expenses, I took a voluntary decision to give up claiming the allowance immediately, to sell the flat and to repay profit made from its sale to the taxpayer."

In his article, Mr Dunt states: "In 2009, Chris Grayling promised to sell his London flat and repay any profit to the taxpayer.

"There is no record of this repayment.

"Numerous requests for information from Grayling's office have been met with a blank refusal to provide any further evidence.

"It's quite possible the payment was made.

"The records we have are incomplete, having been destroyed under Commons rules.

"But his office's refusal to provide any evidence of it suggests the old arrogance of MPs is reasserting itself as memories of the expenses scandal fade."

Mr Grayling, who has been Justice Secretary since 2012, told the Epsom Guardian last week that the only statement he was willing to make on the issue was: "I kept the promise I made at the time but I am not willing to reopen discussions about this six years later."