BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller is set to donate her severance pay packet to Basingstoke charity, Speakeasy Advocacy.

As reported on The Gazette website, Mrs Miller resigned from her position as Culture Secretary, yesterday morning following the public row over her public expenses.

In a letter of resignation to Prime Minister David Cameron, the MP said the controversy “has become a distraction from the vital work this Government is doing”.

But under Parliamentary rules, Mrs Miller is entitled to a lump sum of almost £17,000 that is worth three months of her £68,000 ministerial salary, which is in addition to her Parliamentary salary, and by law but can opt to not take it.

And now it has been reported that Mrs Miller has chosen to donate the £17,000 to the charity on New Road, which helps adults with learning disabilities.

The move follows calls from Labour MP John Mann to Maria Miller to reject the pay packet yesterday with the MP saying: "In light of Maria Miller’s conduct, it would now be inappropriate for her to claim severance pay following her resignation. For her to accept a pay-off would be a further insult to the tax payer.”