Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) number of staff involved in the independent review on the salaries of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement.
I have asked Mr Trevor Reaney to provide me with advice on pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly by 15 December 2017. Our estimate of the direct cost of this exercise will not exceed £5,000 plus expenses. No members of Northern Ireland Office staff are dedicated to work on the advice, though I have offered Mr Reaney access to administrative and media enquiry support for his work.