AQW 19587/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 27/05/2021
Answered On Date: 14/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Assembly Commission, pursuant to AQW 18760/17-22, whether it will review the Independent Financial Review Panel paragraph 40 (2) of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2016 that requires that Category 2 costs must be paid by the member and may then be recovered by the member from the Commission, to amend this provision, that was not updated in the terms and conditions of employment of Members’ staff in August 2020, to allow direct payment to be made.

Answer:

The issue of recovery of Category 2 costs was not raised with the Assembly Commission during its consultation with Parties in advance of publishing the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2020, however the Assembly Commission will ensure that it is considered prior to the next review of the Determination.