Presiding Officer defends new deal for AMs

Mar 7 2008 David James, South Wales Echo

THE inflation busting pay-rise for AMs would reflect the increased workload in Cardiff Bay, Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas said yesterday.

He said: “This is the cost of Welsh democracy. We need informed, businesslike, democratic scrutiny.”

But the Assembly Commission’s decision was plunged into political controversy last night when Plaid Cymru broke ranks with their Labour coalition partners to reject the deal.

While Labour pledged to respect the cross-party Commission’s decision, Plaid’s Alun Ffred Jones said: “We were unable to justify the sums and we oppose the decision.”

The rise of almost £4,000 would take an ordinary AM’s salary to £50,692, which is now 82 per cent of an MP’s salaries compared to the 76 per cent it is currently.

If accepted, it will mean AMs pay has rocketed £15,000 since the Cardiff Bay body was set up in 1999.

All AMs will have to vote on the Commission’s recommendation in the Senedd before it is ratified.

Tim Cox, of the teaching union NASUWT, said: “I think it is absolutely disgraceful. I can’t see the justification in this at all.

“They don’t seem to be taking their own advice on affordability.

“All of the other public sector unions have taken about two per cent.”

He dismissed the argument that AMs had extra responsibilities, saying teachers had been asked to deal with a raft of new initiatives from the Assembly Government which had created a massive workload.

He added: “All the public sector unions will rally around on this. It’s just not acceptable.”

Fire Brigades Union executive member Mike Smith said: “I’m flabbergasted. We have our own pay negotiations taking place for a settlement on July 1 and I tell you my members would love an 8.3 per cent increase pay rise – but we’re not going to get it.”

A spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing said the Assembly Government had awarded nurses their independently-assessed 2.5 per cent rise and that independent reviews were the only way to “de-politicise the issue”.

A spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services Union said: “This will not look good to our members.”

Under the pay review, whips will also receive bonuses on top of their pay as will the chairs of several new committees, Assembly Commissioners and the leaders of small parties.

It will mean the Assembly Commissioners and chairs of committees will receive £62,023.

Tory AMs David Melding and William Graham both said they would back the deal suggesting that if all Labour AMs follow the party line, it is likely to be approved.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said the group had not discussed the offer yet.

The commission also announced plans to crack down on the members’ allowance system of employing family members and allowances for mortgages on members’ second homes.

The proposed pay deal has also led to outrage from taxpayers.

Paul Thomas, 26, a public sector union official, of Cathays, Cardiff, said: “If AMs are getting 8.3 per cent they should give that to police and nurses too.

“It’s blatant hypocrisy because they are telling everyone else to survive on inflation-linked increases.”

HOW PAY RISE COMPARES

THE 8.3 per cent rise AMs are set to award themselves dwarfs other public sector pay increases.

In the past year valued workers have been offered, and usually forced to accept, rises in line with the lower estimate of inflation.

- Prison staff yesterday rejected a 2.2 per cent offer.

- Police officers protested in Westminster last month over a 2.5 per cent deal.

- Firefighters accepted a 2.4 per cent increase.

- Nurses will be given a 2.5 per cent rise in September.

- Teachers’ latest pay offer was a 2.45 per cent increase.

NEW SALARIES

First Minister:  £129,047

Presiding Officer/Minster: £91,337

Opposition leader:  £91,337

Government Chief Whip/Deputy Minister: £76,258

Whip/Committee Chairman: £62,023

Assembly Member: £50,692

Member of Parliament: £61,820

david.james@mediawales.co.uk