Citation, retrospective effect and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the New Northern Ireland Assembly (Salaries and Allowances) Order 1999.

(2) The salaries and allowances specified in this Order apply from the date on which members took their seats in the manner prescribed by standing orders, and in the case of office-holders from the date of their election to or nomination for office; and accordingly, this Order shall have retrospective effect.

(3) In this Order, "member" means a member of the New Northern Ireland Assembly who has taken his seat in the manner prescribed by standing orders.

Provision of salaries and allowances

2.-(1) The amount of any salary or allowance payable to a member by virtue of this Order-

(a)shall be reduced by the amount of any salary or allowance paid by the Secretary of State to the member before the making of this Order;

(b)shall be paid from the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

Salaries

3.-(1) The salary payable to members for any period is calculated by reference to the following yearly rates:

(2) In the case of a period for which a member receives a salary as a Member of the House of Commons or a Member of the European Parliament, the yearly rate is reduced by £19,528.

Deputy Presiding Officer

4. An allowance of £78.88 is payable, in addition to his member's salary, to a Deputy Presiding Officer for each day during which (for any length of time) he acts as Presiding Officer.

Travel

5.-(1) A motor mileage allowance is payable to members.

(2) The allowance is calculated by reference to the number of miles travelled, by private motor vehicle belonging to or leased by the member, on Assembly or constituency business.

(3) The rate for the allowance is 50.1 pence per mile for the first 20,000 miles travelled annually, and 23.1p per mile thereafter.

(4) A travel costs allowance is payable to a member who travels by public transport on Assembly or constituency business.

(5) The allowance is equal to the actual cost incurred by the member in purchasing a ticket, whether first or other class, for the journey.

Accommodation and subsistence

6.-(1) For each night that it is necessary for a member to stay away from his place of residence on Assembly business, one of the following accommodation allowances is payable:

(a)for central London, £100 or the actual cost incurred by him for bed and breakfast, whichever is the lower;

(b)elsewhere, £80 or the actual cost incurred by him for bed and breakfast, whichever is the lower;

(c)where he incurs no cost for bed and breakfast, £25.

(2) In each case, a subsistence allowance of £18.30 is also payable.

Office costs

7.-(1) An office costs allowance is payable to members.

(2) The allowance is equal to the actual cost incurred by a member in paying salaries to staff, or in purchasing or hiring office equipment or office services.

(3) For the period ending on 31st December 1998, the maximum amount of the allowance payable to any member is £15,000.

(4) For each month thereafter, the maximum amount of the allowance payable to any member is £2,500.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order prescribes the salaries and allowances payable to members of the New Northern Ireland Assembly, established under the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998.