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Members' Salaries, Pensions and Allowances

I understand my hon. Friend's point, and she is, of course, free to make representations to the MEC about that, if she wishes. The hon. Member for North Devon spoke to his amendment (f) to the motion before us, which proposes that we stay with the existing system until a new system is put in place. I hope that I have explained to him why we do not believe that to be necessary. We are proposing to remove the current system as an earnest of our intent to achieve the timetable that we have promised this afternoon. Furthermore, we do not believe it right to vote on the numbers for years two and three beyond the current financial year, which is what his amendment would do. The hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) suggested that it would be possible to align hon. Members' pay with public sector workers and that that would necessarily be in line with the Government's policies on public sector pay and inflation. He is perfectly free to put that perspective to the Baker review, and I am sure that it will be taken into account.