MPs return to Parliament later today after their three-month summer break (at least they'll be well-rested) and their expenses are again dominating the headlines.
But here's one for you.
A number of MPs have obviously been accused of claiming too much in travel expenses and, since the scandal broke, the House of Commons authorities have taken it upon themselves to be much more stringent than previously. This includes a desire to clamp down on individuals who wish to fly to London from their constituencies when the train could be just as quick and much more cost-effective for the taxpayer.
But, of course, some have no choice but to fly. These include politicians from Northern Ireland and from the more northerly parts of Scotland. And you cannot find a more northerly part of Scotland than the Orkney and Shetland Isles.
Enter Alistair Carmichael, the jovial Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland (pictured above).
A friend in the know recently told me that Mr Carmichael was filling in a travel expenses form and came to the following short and seemingly straightforward question:
What is your nearest mainline railway station?
Wanting to do the right thing, Mr Carmichael contacted the House of Commons Fees Office to explain that, as his constituency was slap bang in the middle of the North Sea, this question was not really applicable to him.
But the official was having none of it and insisted that he answered it to the best of his ability.
So, Mr Carmichael did a bit of research and filled in the blank with the name of his nearest mainline railway station.
Oslo.
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