FOI 53-25: Information in regards to salaries for MLAs since 1998

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

1 October 2025
Our ref: FoI 53-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has considered your request dated 17 September 2025 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked for:

‘Since 1998, in relation to salaries for MLAs, please outline the following:

The base salary for MLAs at each point their salary was increased, by how much in percentage terms, in real terms, the new salary and year of increase.’

Our response

The Assembly Commission holds information in relation to your request. However, this information is reasonably accessible to you by other means, and as such is exempt from disclosure under section 21 of the FOIA.

Information on the salaries paid to Members of the Assembly from 1998 is published on the Northern Ireland Assembly website. The published salaries are broken down into base salary and Office Holder’s Allowance.

Further Information

You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission.  If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised. 

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS