Overview

The Northern Ireland Assembly Members Act 2010 amended the Northern Ireland Act 1998, altering how salaries, allowances, and pensions for members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are determined. It shifted the power to set these payments from the Assembly itself to allowing the Assembly to delegate this responsibility or to establish an external body to decide.

Description

This Act primarily modified Section 47 and Section 48 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Key changes include:

• Salary and Allowance Determination: The Act allows the Assembly to delegate the setting of member salaries and allowances to an external body, which must publicly announce its decisions. Different salary levels can be set for different roles (e.g., Ministers).
• Salary Reduction for Dual Roles: If a member of the Assembly also holds a position in the UK Parliament or European Parliament, their Assembly salary is reduced by the amount of a standard Assembly member's salary. An exception exists if the Assembly member holds an additional role with a higher salary than that of a standard member.
• Pension Provisions: Changes were made to the sections concerning pensions, aligning them with the amendments to salary and allowance procedures.
• Assembly's Powers: The Assembly gained the power to establish offices, bodies, and confer functions on these through resolution or Act, thereby influencing the salary and allowance scheme.

Government Spending

The Act doesn't directly specify changes in government spending. The impact on government spending depends on the decisions made by the Assembly or the delegated body regarding salaries and allowances for Assembly members.

Groups Affected

• Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs): Their salaries, allowances, and pensions are directly affected by the Act's changes to the determination process. Some MLAs may see their salaries increase or decrease depending on the decisions made by the Assembly or the external body.
• Ministers and other Office Holders within the Assembly: These individuals may experience changes in their salary based on the new provisions for differential payments.
• Northern Ireland Assembly Commission: This body may be tasked with determining salaries and allowances, significantly increasing its responsibilities and influence.
• UK Government: While the Act doesn't directly affect UK government spending, the decisions made regarding Northern Ireland MLA compensation indirectly impact the UK's budgetary contributions to Northern Ireland.

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