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Panel due to report on AMs' money AMs' expenses recommendations due
(about 2 hours later)
An independent panel investigating pay and expenses among members of the Welsh assembly is about to report back. Proposals for a new pay and expenses system for Welsh assembly members will be published later.
The findings will come after almost a year of investigation and following recent controversies over expenses. An independent panel chaired by Sir Roger Jones, Swansea University's Pro Chancellor, will make recommendations after an 11 month investigation.
Panel members have held more than 20 meetings - including two in public - and compared procedures at other parliamentary bodies. After recent controversies over MPs' expenses, the tightening up of AMs' second home allowances is expected.
The panel say the aim is to reward AMs fairly for their work, but with the emphasis on transparency. Last year AMs claimed more than £230,000 for mortgages and rent, as the expenses' publication online showed.
"We have adopted a number of principles to guide us in our work. One of these is that our recommendations must be based on evidence," said Sir Roger Jones, who chairs the panel. They also claimed £4,500 for air travel and nearly £50,000 for meals and subsistence.
"We want to get this right - to ensure not only that any new system of pay and allowances is fair, transparent, and recognises and rewards AMs' skills, but also that it provides value for money." From October, monthly updates of AMs' expenses will be posted on the assembly's website.
The panel was established in August last year to "look at all aspects of financial support available to AMs." The review panel was set up last August after AMs were awarded a controversial 8.3% pay rise to recognise their growing workload and law-making responsibilities.
i-Pod It's nonsense that somebody who lives within 30 to 40 miles of Cardiff should claim a second home allowance John Elfed Jones
More than 20 meetings, two in public, have been held and comparisons have been made with other parliamentary bodies.
The panel said the aim was to reward AMs fairly for their work, but with the emphasis on transparency.
Sir Roger Jones angered some AMs in December when he questioned whether they offered value for money.
"We want to get this right - to ensure not only that any new system of pay and allowances is fair, transparent, and recognises and rewards AMs' skills, but also that it provides value for money," said Sir Roger.
Its recommendations are meant to take into account extra responsibility for AMs as a result of the Government of Wales Act in 2006.Its recommendations are meant to take into account extra responsibility for AMs as a result of the Government of Wales Act in 2006.
At the moment AMs receive an annual salary of £53,108, which is 82% of an MP's salary.At the moment AMs receive an annual salary of £53,108, which is 82% of an MP's salary.
Clear and unambiguous
The additional costs allowance - for second home expenses - stands at up to £13,000 for payment of interest-only mortgages and furnishings.The additional costs allowance - for second home expenses - stands at up to £13,000 for payment of interest-only mortgages and furnishings.
Last year Welsh conservative leader Nick Bourne was embroiled in controversy over his claim for an iPod, which he has since repaid. John Elfed Jones, who chaired the group which worked out how the Welsh Assembly should operate when it was set up, warned the new rules will have "to be quite clear and unambiguous and they have to be fair and justifiable or the assembly will lose the trust of the people of Wales".
The latest details of AMs' expenses claims were published online last week. He said: "It's nonsense that somebody who lives within 30 to 40 miles of Cardiff should claim a second home allowance. It doesn't happen in private industry and it shouldn't happen with out assembly members either."
They show AMs claimed more than £230,000 for mortgages and rent last year and £50,000 for meals. Glyn Davies, a former AM for Mid and West Wales, and now the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Montgomeryshire, said: "What we've got to do is restore confidence in politics.
"It's seriously damaged at Westminster but I think it reflects on politicians everywhere. "
MPs expenses have also been published online, but Commons authorities were criticised because many of the details were blacked out.MPs expenses have also been published online, but Commons authorities were criticised because many of the details were blacked out.
The independent review panel includes chair Sir Roger Jones, pro-chancellor at Swansea University, Jackie Nickson, a senior human resources manager, Nigel Rudd, the former chief executive of the East Midlands Regional Assembly, and Dafydd Wigley, the former Plaid Cymru president.