Bishops who sit in the House of Lords are able to live both in London and their dioceses for free under a unique arrangement that saw them claim more than £1.5million in expenses last year.

The “Lords Spiritual” are all provided with grace-and-favour houses, many of which are mediaeval palaces, and claimed £1.4million in hospitality, travel and utilities bills from the Church of England last year.

However, like other peers, they are reimbursed by the taxpayer for meals, hotel rooms, travel and office costs incurred when they visit Westminster, claiming £135,762 in the most recent financial year.

This means that the costs of both their main residences and their stays in London are covered.

Some of the prelates have only spoken in Parliament on a handful of occasions, records show, despite claiming thousands in expenses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6860012/Bishops-claim-136000-in-expenses-from-House-of-Lords-and-1.4million-from-Church-of-England.html

Also see the BHA campaign on Bishops in the Lords.