An MP has hit out at figures which reveal a staggering £4 million has been paid out to prisoners for injury claims in 12 months at a time when police helpdesks in West Yorkshire face closure as part of cost-cutting.

Figures released today show that between 2005 and 2006, £4,043,318 was forked out in prisoner claims almost double that in 2004/05 when £2,186,380 was claimed. The statistics were revealed as part of a written parliamentary question by Shipley Tory MP Philip Davies.

Mr Davies MP said that at a time when police around the country were being short-changed by the Government, it needed to be held to account over tax-payers' money spent on compensation claims.

"People will be absolutely disgusted with the amount being paid to prisoners in compensation last year," he said.

"When Shipley and other police station helpdesks are closing because of money, why is so much being spent on prisoners? It is an outrageous amount."

The proposal to close help-desks at Shipley, Bingley, Otley, Brighouse and Cleckheaton is part of a £1million cost-cutting measure, following a study by the force which concluded the helpdesks were not used often enough.

Last week, West Yorkshire Police changed their mind and said the Bingley and Otley helpdesks would stay open.

But there was disappointment in Shipley, where the force said it was sticking by plans to close the helpdesk, despite having spent £55,000 refurbishing it before announcing the closure.

Mr Davies criticised the amount being spent on compensating prisoners. He said: "Look at the amount spent and the categories are very closeted."

The figures are broken down into claims for abuse and harassment, assault by prisoner, assault by staff, slip, trip and fall, sport injury and medical negligence "What exactly was £3,445,650 for "miscellaneous injury" spent on?" he asked. "This is public money."

A spokesman from the Home Office said the pay-out was for one claim for an out-of-court settlement but refused to give further details.

Mr Davies requested figures for the last eight years but the answer from Bradford South MP and Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said data prior to 2004-05 was "unreliable."

Mr Davies said: "What is the Government trying to hide?"