Ad Hoc Committee on the AssemblyMembers (Remuneration Board) Bill
Minute of proceedings 11 March 2025
Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Remuneration Board bill minutes of proceedings 11 March 2025.pdf (190.3 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Phillip Brett MLA, Chairperson
Cathy Mason MLA, Deputy Chairperson
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Pádraig Delargy MLA
Gary Middleton MLA
John Stewart MLA
Apologies:
Daniel McCrossan MLA
In Attendance:
Jim McManus, Committee Clerk
Roisin Donnelly, Assistant Assembly Clerk
Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor
The meeting commenced at 10:04 am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are noted above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson advised members of their requirement to register their interests under Standing Order 69(5).
Agreed: The Committee agreed that as the Ad Hoc Committee has been established to scrutinise a Bill that relates to MLA salaries, allowances and pensions, the minutes should reflect that all members of the Committee have a financial interest in the work of the Committee.
The Chairperson made a declaration of interest in advance of the evidence session with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The Chairperson advised that he will receive an IPSA determined pension relating to his former role as an employee of a Westminster Member of Parliament.
3. Chairperson’s Business
There was no Chairperson’s business.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2025.
5. Matters Arising
The Committee noted that electronic bill folders had been issued and would continue to be updated each week with new papers relating to the Committee’s work on the Bill.
6. Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill – oral evidence from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
The following representatives from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) joined the meeting at 10:06 am:
Richard Lloyd OBE, Chairperson; and
Lee Bridges, Director, Policy and Engagement.
Richard Lloyd OBE outlined the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in relation to the pay and pensions of Westminster MPs and their staff.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the IPSA representatives for their attendance.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The Committee noted a written submission from IPSA.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish IPSA’s written submission on the Committee webpage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a number of issues arising from the evidence session would be explored with the Assembly Commission at the meeting on 25 March 2025.
7. Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill – consideration of motion to extend committee stage
The Committee considered a proposed extended timetable to allow the Committee to complete its scrutiny of the Bill and prepare its report.
Agreed: The Committee aims to begin its clause by clause consideration of the Bill at its meeting on 1 April 2025.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek an extension to the Committee Stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill until 16 May 2025.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the following motion should be laid in the Business Office for plenary debate:
“That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 16 May 2025, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27)”.
8. Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill – consideration of written evidence
The Committee considered five additional responses that had been received to the call for evidence on the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the five responses to the call for evidence on the Committee’s webpage.
The Committee considered a written submission from the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the written submission from the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd as a substantive agenda item at the next meeting.
The Committee considered a response from the Assembly Commission to its request for information regarding the scrutiny of delegated legislation as provided for in clause 4 of the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Commission’s correspondence to the Audit Committee for information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the Commission’s correspondence on the Committee’s webpage.
The Committee noted a bill evidence paper summarising the evidence received under each clause of the Bill and noted it would be updated as further evidence was received.
9. Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered a draft Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commence its deliberations on the Bill at its next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme.
11. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee was scheduled to take place at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, 25 March 2025 in Room 29.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 am.
Phillip Brett MLA
Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill
18 March 2025
