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Double jobbing MLAs face pay cut Double jobbing MLAs face pay cut
(31 minutes later)
The Environment Minister Sammy Wilson says councillors who are also MLAs should have their council allowances reduced.The Environment Minister Sammy Wilson says councillors who are also MLAs should have their council allowances reduced.
Councillors currently get a basic £9,500 allowance. Councillors currently get a basic £9,500 allowance. MLAs are paid at least £42,000.
Mr Wilson says MLAs who are also sit on councils should in future only get a proportion of this amount. Mr Wilson says MLAs who also sit on councils should in future only get a third of the councillors allowance.
He is considering a change in the law so that councillors who double up as MLAs should get a third or even a quarter of this allowance.
Around two thirds of the 108 strong Assembly are currently sitting councillors.Around two thirds of the 108 strong Assembly are currently sitting councillors.
Mr Wilson who is an MLA, an MP and a councillor says he will not legislate to end the practice of double or triple jobbing. Mr Wilson wants any new system to be similar to the arrangement which exists for MPs who are also MLAs. MPs currently get their full Westminster salary and a third of their Stormont salary.
He says it is an issue for individuals and the political parties. Mr Wilson who is an MLA, an MP and a councillor says he will not legislate to end the practice of double or triple jobbing. He says it is an issue for individuals and the political parties.
Speaking from Westminster the East Antrim MP said his planned change to the regulations would focus the minds of his Assembly colleagues who sit on councils.
"Having a council seat in your own constituency is clearly very useful. However it would then be up to MLAs to decide if they want to do this for just a nominal amount of money ".
Mr Wilson who divides his time between Westminster, East Antrim, and Belfast believes he is able to carry out all his duties effectively.
Arlene Foster MLA his predecessor as Environment Minister resigned her council seat when she took the Environment brief. However he says he is quite happy that there is no clash of interest in being a councillor and Minister.
A Belfast city councillor since 1981 he says he has no plans to resign his council seat .