Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members
(Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill

PRESS RELEASE

27 January 2011

AD HOC 02/10/11

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE WELCOMES INCREASED TRANSPARENCY

The Assembly Ad Hoc Committee considering the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill has today agreed its report.

The Bill sets out arrangements for the establishment of an independent panel to determine the salaries, pensions and financial support for MLAs and also establishes the role of Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Committee Chairperson, Fred Cobain MLA said: “This Committee welcomes the increased transparency and accountability which will result from this legislation. The Committee considered evidence from other regions and believes that the establishment of an independent financial review panel and of a Commissioner for Standards represents a new level of openness for MLAs.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill was established on 23 November 2010 by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Members of the Committee are:

Fred Cobain MLA - Chairperson
Sue Ramsey MLA – Deputy Chairperson
John Dallat MLA
Paul Givan MLA
Kieran McCarthy MLA
Daithí McKay MLA
Jim Wells MLA

Clerk to the Committee is Shauna Mageean
Room 430 Parliament Buildings
Ballymiscaw, Stormont
Belfast BT4 3XX
Tel: 028 90 521670
Email: ah.financialreviewandstandards@niassembly.gov.uk

A copy of the draft legislation and relevant explanatory document are available at http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/legislation/primary/2010/nia3_10.htm

For media enquiries please contact:

Debra Savage
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tel: 02890 521405
Mobile : 07920 864221
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk