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Senedd Members are in line for a 3% pay rise under proposals from the independent body which sets salaries and expenses.
The Remuneration Board of the Senedd has opened a public consultation on the proposals which will take a member’s base salary from £67,920 to £69,958. Extra money is paid for additional responsibilities – eg the First Minister currently gets £80,655 for a total salary of £148,575. If the increase is agreed, this could rise to a total of £153,033.
The increase in member pay is calculated based on average median earnings in Wales, from ONS data, which means members should be in line for a 7.4% rise. However, the board agreed last year to cap any increase to 3%.
Senedd Members had a pay increase of 0.4% for 2022/23 after they had been frozen since April 2020.
The remuneration board is also proposing a 10.1% increase for business costs members can claim to run their constituency offices as well as claim for residential accommodation if they live outside of Cardiff.
This proposal reflects the rate of inflation in September 2022.
Members can currently claim a maximum of £110,570 to employ three staff members. This is set to increase by £11,189 to take into account a 3% pay rise and enable to keep staff on who have reached the top of their banding.
The Chair of the Remuneration Board, Dr Elizabeth Haywood, said: “Our annual review of support provided to Members of the Senedd aims to make sure it remains fit for purpose for the next financial year.
“This year, we must take into account the effect of rising inflation on the cost of running offices, the cost of engaging with constituents and other expenses.
“We have made recommendations designed to enable Members to continue to do their job of representing their constituents in these challenging times. They are designed to ensure the support is sustainable, reflects the wider financial circumstances in Wales, and represents value for money for taxpayers.
“We now look forward to hearing people’s views on these proposals to help shape a fair final offer.”
If agreed, the increases will come into effect from April.
Responses to the Remuneration Board’s consultation can be emailed to remuneration@senedd.wales.
The deadline for submitting responses is 5pm, Thursday, February 9.
Further information is available at remunerationboard.wales.
What Senedd Members can claim
| Expense | Current maximum claim (2022/23) | Proposed maximum claim (2023/24) |
| Childcare | £297 a month | £327 a month |
| Housing allowance for a Cardiff property (for members who have main homes in Mid and West Wales and North Wales) | £10,260 per year (which can include bills and council tax) | £11,280 per year (which can include bills and council tax) |
| Hotel stay in Cardiff | £7,220 per annum £100 a night | £7,920 per annum £110 a night |
| Hotel stay outside Cardiff | £100 a night | £100 a night |
| Hotel stay in London | £158 a night | £174 a night |
| Overnight stay with family or friend | £25 a night | Withdrawn |
| Carer’s allowance (to cover the cost of a dependent normally resident with a member) | £1,440 per annum | £1,520 per annum |
| Carer’s allowance (for members in Mid and West Wales and North Wales) | £1,440 per annum | £1,670 per annum |
| Constituency office costs | £23,260 per annum | £25,610 per annum |
| Office costs (if a member does not have a constituency office and works out of Senedd) | £9,500 per annum | £10,460 per annum |
| Support staff salaries | £110,570 per annum | £121,759 per annum |
Members’ salaries with 3% increase applied
| Additional office holder salaries | Base salary | Additional salary | Total |
| First Minister | £69,958 | £83,075 | £153,033 |
| Welsh Minister | £69,958 | £39,350 | £109,308 |
| Counsel General | £69,958 | £39,350 | £109,308 |
| Deputy Minister | £69,958 | £22,955 | £92,913 |
| Presiding Officer | £69,958 | £44,816 | £114,774 |
| Deputy Presiding Officer | £69,958 | £22,955 | £92,913 |
| Senedd Commissioner | £69,958 | £14,210 | £84,168 |
| Committee Chair (Higher) | £69,958 | £14,210 | £84,168 |
| Committee Chair (Lower) | £69,958 | £9,467 | £79,425 |
| Business Committee Member | £69,958 | £9,467 | £79,425 |
| Leader of a Political Group not in Government | £69,958 | £14210 + £1,093 per Member up to £39,350 | Range from £87,447 to £109,308 |
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