Book Description

The Government asked Sir John Baker to review the options for determining MPs' remuneration and to identify an independent mechanism for doing so in future. This followed a Senior Salaries Review Body report on parliamentary pay (2008, Cm. 7270, ISBN 9780101727020). Sir John recommends that the current Senior Salaries Review Body should become the independent body which determines MPs' pay, conduct reviews every four years or so. Consideration should be given to securing its independence by Government undertaking or statute. Pay should be uprated annually by the three month average Public Sector Average Earnings Index on 1 April, using the published PSAEI figure for January of that year. MPs' salary with effect from 1 April 2008 should be £64,634 (an increase of 3.5 per cent plus £650 - this latter sum being that identified in the SSRB report to start bringing the pay into line with the earnings of the public sector comparators). The salary should increase again by the PSAEI annual percentage plus £650 on 1 April 2009 and again on 1 April 2010, thereafter by the PSAEI annual percentage. The independent body should consider MPs' pension arrangements bearing in mind the unusual career pattern of MPs and the evolution of pensions in the public sector and the wider economy. The London supplement for London MPs should be increased to £3,623 with effect from 1 April 2008. Sir John is concerned that the new mechanism achieves the support and trust of MPs, Government and the public. His recommendations are a balanced package which removes the need for MPs to vote on their own pay. He offers alternative pay progression and periodic realignment options should MPS feel the suggested increases are presentationally and politically difficult to accept in the current economic climate.