WORCESTERSHIRE MPs are among the most active law-makers in Westminster, according to a report detailing voting records over the last year.

It shows that Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has cast his vote most often out of the county's MPs.

Mr Luff voted in 83 per cent of the "divisions" held during the 2003/4 Parliamentary session ending in November.

And most of the county's MPs were above the average for all 659 MPs of 65 per cent.

Worcester's Michael Foster voted in 82 per cent of divisions and Leominster's Bill Wiggin 80 per cent.

West Worcestershire's Sir Michael Spicer cast his vote on 75 per cent of occasions, Redditch's Jacqui Smith 71 per cent and Bromsgrove's Julie Kirkbride 65 per cent.

In Worcestershire, only Wyre Forest MP Richard Taylor's record was below the average, at 61 per cent. Hereford's Paul Keetch voted on 54 per cent of occasions.

But the authors of the report, which has been placed in the House of Commons Library, warned that there were different factors to be taken into account concerning voting records.

"Participation may be affected by a number of factors," Ross Young and Jeremy Hardacre said in the foreword.

"These may include Ministerial or Opposition frontbench duties, visits abroad as part of a Parliamentary or Committee delegation, constituency business or party duties."

Involvement in Government or Opposition duties is one of the biggest factors to determine participation.

Prime Minister Tony Blair voted in just six per cent of divisions and the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, eight per cent.

Mr Keetch is the Liberal Democrats' defence spokesman and Dr Taylor is a member of the health committee. Mrs Smith is a Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr Wiggin is the Tories' Wales spokesman, Mr Luff is the Tories' assistant chief whip and Mr Foster is a Parliamentary aide in the Department for Education and Skills.

Other factors include Parliamentary trips abroad, sickness and constituency business.

There is no record, either, of MPs' abstentions even when they are present.

The figures have been compiled from Hansard, the official record of Parliamentary proceedings, which records only Aye or No votes.

Mr Luff was modest about his high score.

"I'm always very nervous about performance measures for teachers and that sort of thing because I have always been aware of the lack of a proper measure for MPs," he said.

"Voting is important but there are lots of important jobs to be done outside the Commons and there are people whose voting records are appalling but do lots of essential work.

"You have to look at a basket of measures and this is only one in the basket.

ID card scheme pushed through

A CROSS-PARTY alliance of Worcestershire MPs helped push the controversial ID cards Bill through the Commons last night.

Labour's Michael Foster and Jacqui Smith were joined by Conservatives Peter Luff and Julie Kirkbride in their support for the Government's plans for a national identity database.

Their backing for the Bill came despite a revolt among MPs of all parties which saw 93 vote against the Bill and dozens more abstain.

Wyre Forest's independent MP Richard Taylor voted against the Bill, along with Hereford MP Paul Keetch, all of whose Liberal Democrat colleagues rejected the Bill.

West Worcestershire's Sir Michael Spicer and Leominster MP Bill Wiggin were among the Tories who did not turn up for the vote, despite a two-line whip from the party leadership in support.

Mr Luff said: "I think there are arguments on both sides. It's one of those that splits people and I do have reservations.

"If the police and the security services say it will help them it's a pretty brave person who says no.

"But it is expensive and it will be difficult to do and we have to make sure these things are addressed."