Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2017 to Question 119152, what discussions he had with the (a) Democratic Unionist Party, (b) Sinn Fein and (c) other political parties prior to the publication of the Reaney review of the salaries and staff allowances of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly; on what dates those discussions took place; and if he will make a statement.

Beyond acknowledging the fact that advice had been commissioned and that it was our intention to publish its recommendations, Northern Ireland Office Ministers did not hold any discussions with any political parties about Mr Reaney’s independent advice on MLA salaries and allowance prior to its publication in full on 20 December.