Jim Anderton

Wellington, Sept 18 NZPA - The Auditor-General's office will consider whether a complaint against Finance Minister Bill English comes under its authority once it receives it.

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton has written to Auditor-General Lyn Provost asking for an inquiry into whether Mr English meets the criteria for being an out of town MP.

Mr English considers the Southland town of Dipton, in his electorate, to be his primary residence under Parliament's rules.

That means he gets an out of town allowance to live in Wellington.

Mr Anderton wrote to the Auditor-General asking for an inquiry.

A spokeswoman for the office expected the complaint to arrive today and issues such as whether the complaint came under its authority would be considered then.

Mr English has been embroiled in a row over housing allowances for the past two months after it was revealed he was claiming a much higher allowance for living in the same house as a minister than he lived in as an opposition MP.

He admitted that was "a bad look" and paid back the about $12,000 difference in allowances.

Mr English yesterday defended himself from the ongoing attacks, saying he got the same allowance as 100 other MPs.