Written question asked by David Burnside (Ulster Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 15 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the level of payment is for MLAs who are members of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission; when the payment was authorised; by whom; and what the responsibilities of those individuals have been since the Assembly was suspended.

Answer: David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the level of payment is for MLAs who are members of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission; when the payment was authorised; by whom; and what the responsibilities of those individuals have been since the Assembly was suspended. [222917] Mr. Paul Murphy: Under the Northern Ireland Assembly (Members Salaries) Determination 1999 as provided for by section 47 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, members of the Assembly Commission received an increased salary entitlement of £10,864. Following suspension of the Assembly, I made the Northern Ireland Assembly (Members Salaries) (Amendment) Determination 2002 which had the effect of reducing the increased entitlement for members of the Assembly Commission to zero from 5 November 2002. Under paragraph 8 of the schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000, the Assembly Commission is unable to meet and its functions are exercised by me.

Secondary information