WEST Devon MP Geoffrey Cox has refuted suggestions that his work outside parliament as a barrister in anyway impaired his performance as a member of parliament.

The national spotlight has been focusing on MPs and earnings from their second jobs following the news that Conservative MP and former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind had resigned as a member of parliament following a 'cash for access' allegations scandal. Fellow former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was also filmed offering his consultancy services for £5,000 per day.

Mr Rifkind caused controversy when he was reported as saying MPs from 'professional backgrounds' could not be expected to live on the £67,000 salary from the commons and later that banning MPs from having second jobs would exclude 'very large numbers of very able people who have a lot to contribute to parliament' .

The rumpus has sparked a nationwide debate on whether MPs should indeed have a 'second' job or be expected to just concentrate or their important work in the House of Commons.

According to the Register of Members' Financial Interests that members declare for their earnings from work outside parliament, Mr Cox, as a practising barrister, is among the higher recipients, at £820,726 — although this figure does relate to three separate calendar years.

Mr Cox declared that amount in billable hours, however, his actual earnings for last year remain significantly lower, as several sums relate to work done in previous years. The figures declared do not take into account ongoing business costs and overheads which are generally deducted by legal chambers from the fees a barrister charges.

Mr Cox said there was no suggestion that any of the work undertaken impacted upon his duties in the House of Commons and his voting record stands at around 65 percent, which remains average among MPs.

Mr Cox told the Times: 'Every time these figures are released the same questions resurface in the national media, but ultimately I believe my constituents are more than capable of making up their own minds.

'I have long argued that outside interests are vital to ensure that we have independent minded MPs whose careers are not dependent on the whips. In my opinion it is extremely beneficial for MPs to have practical experience of a world other than politics. In doing so we develop a greater understanding of the interests of those we are working to support. Indeed, as every inquiry from Lord Nolan onwards states, if we want professional people in parliament, then we must allow them to maintain their skills in practise.

'Personally, I regularly work 60-70 hours a week as an MP. My outside work is professional consultancy work as a Queen's Counsel. On average I spend around 20 hours per week on this, the majority of which is done at weekends or during parliamentary recesses.'

Mr Cox made it clear that he does not accept cases when he believes they will impede his role as a Member of Parliament.

The Prime Minister has stated in recent days that he is opposed to a complete ban on MPs' outside interests, saying that these often enriched the knowledge base of parliament.