MLA's To Get Pay Increase

MLA's are to receive a pay increase of £1,000, according to an Independent Financial Review Panel.

However, following "radical changes" rent and rates for constituency offices will be capped at £8,500 and there will be lower amounts for shared offices with other politicians and only one constituency office will be funded.

The changes will come into effect on 05 May this year.

Pat McCartan, Chairman of the panel, said: "The panel has made radical changes to expenses that will provide professional, fair and equitable support for each MLA, and will enhance public confidence in our politicians. Our decisions set the rates for salaries, pensions and expenses to support each MLA and their work for the next five years. The panel expects that these decisions will amount to savings of between £1.5 million and £2.0 million in the Assembly's budget over the next five years."

The major changes are the scrapping of the current systems for office cost expenses and for mileage and subsistence, which will be replaced with separate capped amounts for travel, office rents and rates, and for employment of support staff. Salaries for MLAs, Ministers, and some office holders, will increase slightly based on inflation being more than 1%, but will be partly offset by higher pension contributions.

(CD)