REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL

Explanatory Statement:  Determination 2015/06
Members of Parliament – Base Salary, Additional Salary for Parliamentary Office Holders, and Related Matters

1.                  The Remuneration Tribunal has inquired into the remuneration paid to members of parliament, including parliamentary office holders, as it is empowered to do by the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 (the Act).  This determination follows the Tribunal’s decision of 30 March 2015 to defer a decision on any remuneration increase for all offices within its jurisdiction.
2.                  This determination replaces in full Determination 2014/10.  The remuneration figures specified in this determination are unchanged from the figures in the superseded determination.
3.                  This determination fulfils the obligation under sub-section 8(1) of the Act for the Remuneration Tribunal to issue a determination at an interval of no more than a year.  The date of effect of this determination is 11 May 2015.
4.                  In undertaking its inquiry and making this determination the Tribunal has informed itself through consultation in accordance with established practice.  Full reasons for the Tribunal’s decision, as required by sub-section 7A of the Act, are published on the Tribunal’s website.

Contents

PART 1 – GENERAL

PART 2 – PARLIAMENTARY BASE SALARY

PART 3 – ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

PART 4 – MINISTERS OF STATE

PART 1 – GENERAL

1.                   Part 1 sets out the authority for and date of effect of the Determination and supersedes and revokes the previous Determination 2014/10.  It also defines ‘base salary’ and explains the scope of references to a ‘member’ or ‘member of parliament’.
2.                   The other provisions in Part 1 are unchanged from those contained in Part 1 of the previous determination.

PART 2 – PARLIAMENTARY BASE SALARY

7. Part 2 sets the base salary to be paid to a member of parliament and the portion of that salary that is not to be taken into account in defining parliamentary allowance (salary) for the purposes of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 (PCS Act).

8. The provisions in Part 2 are unchanged from those contained in Part 2 of the previous determination.

PART 3 – ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

9. Part 3 sets the additional salary to be paid to parliamentary office holders and the portion of that salary that is not to be taken as ‘allowance by way of salary’ for the purposes of the PCS Act.

10. It also specifies how authorities are to administer payment of the additional salary and limits the number of shadow ministers who may be paid in accordance with the determination.

11. A redundant phrase has been removed from clause 3.4; otherwise the provisions in Part 3 are unchanged from those contained in Part 3 of the previous determination.

PART 4 – MINISTERS OF STATE

12. Part 4 specifies the portion of additional salary of Ministers of State that will not count as allowance by way of salary for the purposes of the PCS Act.

13. The provisions in Part 4 are unchanged from those contained in Part 4 of the previous determination.

 Authority: Subsections 7(1), 7(1A), 7(1B), 7(1C), 7(2), 7(2A), 7(4) and 7(5G)

of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973