George Foulkes said the allowances difference was unfair

He told a review of Holyrood's allowances scheme that MSPs' expenses should be raised to Westminster levels.

Evidence from an SNP MSP and a staff union echoed the point.

A retired RAF squadron leader suggested out-of-town MSPs should stay overnight in a former military barracks to cut down on accommodation expenses.

The Holyrood review of allowances has come after scandals over taxi bills, mileage claims, and criticism over MSPs profiting from the sale of property subsidised by allowances.

There are ex-MOD accommodation blocks at Turnhouse sitting unused that could easily be converted into one bedroomed self-contained flats Dave Smart Former air force squadron leader

Lord Foulkes - now a Labour MSP for the Lothians region - said he had quickly come to realise that the workload for MSPs was greater than for MPs but the allowances were substantially less.

"Although I am a new elected member here, I have almost 30 years parliamentary experience behind me," his submission to the inquiry stated.

"I have come to quickly realise that the workload for MSPs, particular those in constituencies, is greater than for Westminster members but the allowances are substantially less.

"This seems paradoxical and unfair."

Western Isles Nationalist MSP Alasdair Allan said he agreed, noting in his evidence that most of the matters which constituents now contacted politicians on were the responsibility of Holyrood.

The MSPs' expenses review aims to report by next spring

The GMB union, which represents MSPs' assistants and researchers, observed that the MSP's allowance of �60,000, from which staff are paid, was about half of what MPs at Westminster could spend.

The only member of the public to have contributed so far, suggested that out-of-town MSPs be accommodated in ex-RAF quarters at Turnhouse, near Edinburgh Airport.

"There are ex-MoD accommodation blocks at Turnhouse sitting unused that could easily be converted into one bedroomed self-contained flats," stated former air force squadron leader Dave Smart.

"These could be used by MSPs who require overnight accommodation in Edinburgh - there is a good bus service from the town centre to Turnhouse."