SOUTHAMPTON MPs have barely used their entitlement to free parking at airports.

The controversial perk, worth £1,400 a year, is in the spotlight after irate shareholders of Southampton Airport owner BAA demanded it be dropped

More than 800 MPs, MEPs and peers take the passes, which are together worth £1.1 million annually.

But Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead is against the practice.

His spokesman said: "Not only does he not have a pass but when he was offered one in 1997 he sent it back and said 'please don't send me passes like that in the future because I don't think MPs should have special privileges'.

"That also goes for railway parking passes, which he was offered as well."

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has taken advantage of his just once.

He said: "If you had asked me a fortnight ago, I'd have said I'd not used it once in seven years but I used it two weeks ago when I went to Denmark.

"This was a circumstance where I could have claimed the cost of the car parking because it was legitimate business. The saving is more to the taxpayer.''