Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her policy is on proposals to reduce the pay of Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly while that Assembly is not sitting; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of such a reduction on Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly's (a) staff and (b) wider office costs.

The former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland asked Trevor Reaney to provide advice on pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. This advice was published on the Northern Ireland Office website on 20 December and includes an assessment of, and recommendations on, staff and office costs. As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland told the House on 20 February, she is considering that advice carefully and will update Parliament when a decision has been made.