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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Assembly members' 8.3% pay rise | Assembly members' 8.3% pay rise |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Welsh assembly members are set to receive an inflation busting pay-rise of 8.3%, bringing their salaries more in line with MPs at Westminster. | Welsh assembly members are set to receive an inflation busting pay-rise of 8.3%, bringing their salaries more in line with MPs at Westminster. |
| An independent panel recommended the rise of almost £4,000 - to £50,692 a year - because of a growing workload. | An independent panel recommended the rise of almost £4,000 - to £50,692 a year - because of a growing workload. |
| But the rise has been opposed by Plaid Cymru, who called it unjustified. | But the rise has been opposed by Plaid Cymru, who called it unjustified. |
| AMs are paid 76% of MPs' salaries but this gap is set to be reduced to 82%. They are also set to receive the 1.9% below inflation rise agreed by MPs. | AMs are paid 76% of MPs' salaries but this gap is set to be reduced to 82%. They are also set to receive the 1.9% below inflation rise agreed by MPs. |
| The increase will bring a back-bench assembly member's salary up to just over £50,000 a year. | The increase will bring a back-bench assembly member's salary up to just over £50,000 a year. |
| ASSEMBLY MEMBERS' PAY 1999-2000 £34,438 £33,3602000-2001 £35,437 £34,327 2001-2002 £38,000 £35,357 2002-2003 £41,500 £36,241 2003-2004 £42,434 £37,056 2004-2005 £44,000 £37,7972005-2006 £45,232 £38,853 2006-2007 £46,191 £39,677 April 2007-Oct 2007 £46,804 £40,225 Nov 2007-March 2008 £47,292 £40,645 Pay for Assembly members since 1999, second figure is extra pay for ministers. Source: Welsh Assembly Government. | ASSEMBLY MEMBERS' PAY 1999-2000 £34,438 £33,3602000-2001 £35,437 £34,327 2001-2002 £38,000 £35,357 2002-2003 £41,500 £36,241 2003-2004 £42,434 £37,056 2004-2005 £44,000 £37,7972005-2006 £45,232 £38,853 2006-2007 £46,191 £39,677 April 2007-Oct 2007 £46,804 £40,225 Nov 2007-March 2008 £47,292 £40,645 Pay for Assembly members since 1999, second figure is extra pay for ministers. Source: Welsh Assembly Government. |
| Members of Parliament currently receive £60,277 and they have accepted a 1.9% rise in the latest pay review round, in line with public sector workers. | Members of Parliament currently receive £60,277 and they have accepted a 1.9% rise in the latest pay review round, in line with public sector workers. |
| The cross-party Assembly Commission, which sets pay, met on Thursday to discuss the panel's findings. | The cross-party Assembly Commission, which sets pay, met on Thursday to discuss the panel's findings. |
| The commission insists that the rises are an inevitable result of the assembly's enhanced powers to draft and pass laws. | The commission insists that the rises are an inevitable result of the assembly's enhanced powers to draft and pass laws. |
| But they are certain to cause anger in the public sector, according to the BBC's Welsh Affairs editor, Vaughan Roderick. | But they are certain to cause anger in the public sector, according to the BBC's Welsh Affairs editor, Vaughan Roderick. |
| The deal has already been condemned by Plaid Cymru. | The deal has already been condemned by Plaid Cymru. |
| Its member on the commission, Chris Franks AM, voted against pay rise. | Its member on the commission, Chris Franks AM, voted against pay rise. |
| Deputy leader of the Plaid assembly group, Alun Ffred Jones AM, said: "Voting to accept such a generous pay rise for AMs wouldn't have been right when many others, particularly those in public sector jobs, have been given such tight pay awards. | Deputy leader of the Plaid assembly group, Alun Ffred Jones AM, said: "Voting to accept such a generous pay rise for AMs wouldn't have been right when many others, particularly those in public sector jobs, have been given such tight pay awards. |
| "We were unable to justify the sums that had been recommended and we oppose the decision to accept that recommendation." | "We were unable to justify the sums that had been recommended and we oppose the decision to accept that recommendation." |
| But chair of the commission, the assembly's presiding officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas said that there was a "price to pay for effective democracy". | |
| He said: "I think AMs are working hard and are overseeing, not only our own budget of £45m for the Assembly Commission for all democratic services but also the £16bn spend of Welsh Government. | |
| "That's the price of an effective democracy." | |
| A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "A decision has been taken by the Assembly Commission and we will abide by that decision." | A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "A decision has been taken by the Assembly Commission and we will abide by that decision." |
| Conservative AM William Graham welcomed the pay rise. | Conservative AM William Graham welcomed the pay rise. |
| He said: "We can say to members its worthwhile coming here, you won't be disadvantaged in terms of an economic prospect, that you'll get a reasonable salary commensurate with your responsibility and the complexity of the work that you do. | He said: "We can say to members its worthwhile coming here, you won't be disadvantaged in terms of an economic prospect, that you'll get a reasonable salary commensurate with your responsibility and the complexity of the work that you do. |
| "But we will also expect you to work jolly hard for the days you're in Cardiff." | "But we will also expect you to work jolly hard for the days you're in Cardiff." |
| The commission also announced plans to crack down on the members' allowance system. | The commission also announced plans to crack down on the members' allowance system. |
| This would include an examination of employing family members and allowances for mortgages on members' second homes some miles from Cardiff. | This would include an examination of employing family members and allowances for mortgages on members' second homes some miles from Cardiff. |