THE claim against Jack Straw for negligence being made by one of his Blackburn constituents could exceed more than £50,000.

The Foreign Secretary is being sued over claims that his office released information about a neighbour dispute to the family responsible.

Mr Straw and Blackburn with Darwen Council face legal action for negligence on September 3.

The case will be heard in Blackburn County Court in the town's Victoria Street and he could be required to attend.

When the House of Commons agreed to insure Mr Straw against the claim, it was revealed that the total damages and legal costs could exceed £50,000.

The case relates to the handling of a neighbour nuisance complaint in December. The allegation is that local authority staff and one of Mr Straw's employees were negligent in dealing with it.

As the employers of the relevant staff, the council and MP are legally responsible.

The case is being defended.

This week the House of Commons approved the insurance so Mr Straw did not personally face the costs on the basis of a previous case involving Tory MP Peter Luff last year.

Leader of the Commons Robin Cook revealed: "The claim arises from legal proceedings against Mr Straw (as a second defendant) and the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (as the first defendant) by a constituent alleging, in respect of Mr Straw, vicarious liability on his part for an act of negligence by a member of his staff (who for unrelated reasons subsequently left his employment) committed in the course of his duties as an MP.

"The constituent claims damages exceeding £50,000 for, among other matters, losses on the value of his property and for personal injury, distress and inconvenience (as well as his legal costs) which he claims are attributable to the release from the constituency office of Mr Straw of information which he had provided to it."

Mr Cook said the decision by the Commons would allow Mr Straw "to be reimbursed his reasonable legal expenditure, including damages, already incurred and to be incurred in this instance." The Motion was approved without debate.