Members’ Salaries and Allowances
for 2003 -2004
SALARIES
Background
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002. Following the suspension the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland reduced Members salaries from £41,321 to £31,817. Members’ salaries and allowances were reviewed in November 2002 and March 2003 by the Secretary of State but no further changes where made.
The suspended Assembly was dissolved on 28th April 2003 in advance of elections in May 2003. However the Secretary of State presented a bill on 8 May 2003 deferring the elections until a date specified under an order to be laid by him.
The Secretary of State made a further determination reducing former Members’ salaries to £20,660 with effect from 1 June 2003.
Further to the Secretary of States’ decision to defer the Assembly elections a provision was made for those former Members who had wished to retire at the May elections to retire on 15 August 2003.
In October 2003 the Secretary of State made an order setting the election date of 26 November 2003. All former Members continued to receive salaries until the close of nominations on 3 November 2003. From close of nominations until close of polling on 26 November 2003 all former Members standing for re-election continued to receive salaries.
The Northern Ireland Act requires Members to sign the Roll before they become entitled to salaries and allowances. However because of suspension this was not possible and the Secretary of State therefore was required to make a further determination, effective from 5 December 2003. This determination set Members salaries at the pre-deferral rate of £31,817.
In summary:
A Member’s basic salary in 03-04 was:
1 April - 31 May 2003 £31,817 per annum
1 June - 26 November 2003 £20,660 per annum
27 November - 4 December ’03 Nil
5 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 £31,817 per annum
Variations in basic salary can be explained by the length of time an individual held the position of an MLA during the year:
- Members who elected to retired early received a salary up to and including 15 August ‘03
- Members who did not stand for election received a salary up to and including 3 November ‘03
- Members who were not returned in the election received a salary up to and including 26 November ‘03
- Newly elected Members were paid from 5 December ’03 onwards
Those Members who were also MPs and/or MEPs had their salaries abated by two thirds.
- David Burnside
- Gregory Campbell
- Nigel Dodds
- Jeffrey Donaldson
- Seamus Mallon
- Eddie McGrady
- Rev. Ian Paisley
- Iris Robinson
- Peter Robinson
- David Trimble.
Office Holders Allowance
Lord Alderdice received a Speaker’s Allowance of £17,033 per annum until his resignation on 29 February ’04.
No other office holders’ allowances were paid during 2003-2004.
ALLOWANCES
OCA
As a result of the Assembly’s suspension on 14 October 2002 additional restrictions were applied to the definition of eligible expenditure under the Members’ Office Cost Allowance (OCA) but the maximum amount claimable, £48,000, remained unchanged. However because Members were unable to sign the Roll following the elections in November 2003 no allowance was available until the Secretary of State made his post–election determination effective on 5 December 2003. As a result the Maximum OCA claimable was:
- £47,000 for a Member who had also been a Member during the previous mandate (maintaining constituency services throughout the year)
- £15,000 for a Member who had not been a Member during the previous mandate (and was therefore establishing constituency services in December 2003).
Winding- Up Allowance
It is recognised that Members who retired, or are not returned at an election, require a period of time in which to conclude their business and ensure that all constituency matters are concluded or passed to an appropriate colleague or representative. A period of 4 months is allowed for winding-up and a winding-up allowance is available to meet all necessary costs. Eligible costs include contractual obligations to staff, office rental agreements during the winding–up period together with any additional costs incurred terminating such agreements, expenses for postage, stationery, telephones and travelling expenses incurred during this period.
Winding-up Allowance is provided for by the Allowances to Members of the Assembly Act (Northern Ireland) 2000. The maximum claimable under this allowance in 2003-2004 was £16,000.
Resettlement Allowance
Members who chose to retire, or are not returned, at an election are entitled to receive a resettlement allowance. Resettlement Allowances are provided for by the Allowances to Members of the Assembly Act (Northern Ireland) 2000. The amount payable as Resettlement Allowance is determined by a persons’ length of service as a Member and their age. In November 2003 Members were eligible for the minimum payment under the Act only, £20,600.
Travel Allowance
The amounts shown for travel allowances are gross and do not reflect any tax deducted. The Speaker was entitled to use an official car.
Members’ travel expenses are likely to be affected by the distance they live from Belfast and by the location and size of their constituencies.
Subsistence Allowance
Subsistence expenses may lead to a corresponding reduction in travel expenses (e.g. As a result if a Member staying overnight in Belfast for early meetings the next day, home to Stormont travel costs will not be incurred).
Other Expenses
Other expenses include airfares, taxis, public transport and child care allowances.