National Assembly for Wales (Remuneration) Measure – What happens next?

23 July 2010

The first ever Measure to be proposed by the Assembly Commission has now been given Royal approval by Her Majesty the Queen.

The Remuneration Measure ends the practice of Assembly Members setting their own pay and expenses by establishing in law an Independent Remuneration Board to decide them instead.

That Board, to be made up of five members, will be appointed over the summer and there are strict criteria to ensure its impartiality and transparency.

No serving Assembly Member or candidate standing for election, for example, will be able to apply.

“This is another important milestone in ensuring a transparent and accountable National Assembly for the people of Wales,” said Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who led the Measure through the Assembly.

“We have taken the lead throughout the whole issue of politicians’ pay and expenses and the passing of the Remuneration Measure is another demonstration of our commitment to that pioneering spirit.

“The Independent Remuneration Board will be responsible for ensuring that Assembly Members are fairly and properly resourced to do their vital job of representing the people of Wales, holding the Welsh Government to account and making laws for Wales.

“At the same time, by clearly removing any influence of Assembly Members themselves from the setting of their pay and allowances, the Board will help to build public trust in the integrity of our democratic system.”

The Board is expected to be in place by the autumn and will make one ruling on AMs’ pay for each four-year Assembly term but will be able to determine allowances more frequently if necessary.

The Assembly Commission set up an independent panel to look at the system of financial support for Assembly Members in August 2008.

Establishing the remuneration board was one of the 108 recommendations to improve the system of financial support for Members made by the panel when it reported in July 2009.