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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| MPs awarded 2.33% salary increase | MPs awarded 2.33% salary increase |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MPs are to receive a pay rise of 2.33% from 1 April, bringing their annual salary to about £64,766. | MPs are to receive a pay rise of 2.33% from 1 April, bringing their annual salary to about £64,766. |
| Rules introduced last year fixed the increase at the average received over the past year by 15 different groups of public sector workers. | Rules introduced last year fixed the increase at the average received over the past year by 15 different groups of public sector workers. |
| The Westminster salary rise comes at a time when many workers are facing pay freezes or even reductions. | The Westminster salary rise comes at a time when many workers are facing pay freezes or even reductions. |
| Downing Street has announced a freeze in ministerial salaries because of "difficult times" for voters. | |
| Those who are MPs will also forego the £1,500 rise in their parliamentary pay to which they are entitled, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said. | |
| Last week figures revealed that inflation, judged by the Consumer Prices Index, had risen to 3.2% in February this year. | Last week figures revealed that inflation, judged by the Consumer Prices Index, had risen to 3.2% in February this year. |
| Allowances | Allowances |
| But the Retail Prices Index, which includes mortgage costs, fell to zero in the same month. | But the Retail Prices Index, which includes mortgage costs, fell to zero in the same month. |
| MPs' basic pay is topped up by expenses and allowances worth up to around £180,000 a year to pay for their offices, staff and travel and the cost of spending time away from home while working at Westminster. | MPs' basic pay is topped up by expenses and allowances worth up to around £180,000 a year to pay for their offices, staff and travel and the cost of spending time away from home while working at Westminster. |
| Ministers also receive pay on top of their MPs' salary. | Ministers also receive pay on top of their MPs' salary. |
| But Downing Street moved quickly to say that ministers would not benefit from the salary rise. | |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The prime minister does feel that, at this time when many families and businesses are facing difficult times economically, it is important that government ministers take a lead. | |
| "That is why, in consultation with his cabinet colleagues, this has been announced today." | |
| The spokesman said that all cabinet ministers consulted on the freeze had agreed to it on behalf of themselves and their more junior colleagues. | |
| An inquiry has been ordered into the whole question of MPs' pay and expenses following a series of controversies, including allegations relating to claims for second home allowances from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and work minister Tony McNulty. | An inquiry has been ordered into the whole question of MPs' pay and expenses following a series of controversies, including allegations relating to claims for second home allowances from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and work minister Tony McNulty. |
| The chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body, Bill Cockburn, wrote to Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Friday to inform him that he had calculated this year's average at 2.33%. | The chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body, Bill Cockburn, wrote to Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Friday to inform him that he had calculated this year's average at 2.33%. |
| The rise is based on those of public sector employees ranging from judges and senior military officers to teachers, NHS workers and council employees. |