Focus on policy and scrutiny – independent Remuneration Board publishes annual report
18 July 2013
The National Assembly for Wales’s independent Remuneration Board has identified increased policy development and scrutiny capacity as a top priority in its annual report published today (18 July).
The Board is responsible for setting the system of remuneration and financial support for Assembly Members, and over the course of the Fourth Assembly it is estimated that the determinations it has made will save the public purse £2million.
Its work during 2012/13 has focused on responding to the enhanced powers of the Assembly, and the complexity of Members’ work as a result of the “Yes” vote in the 2011 referendum.
“The Assembly has evolved substantially since its establishment,” said Sir George Reid, Chair of the Board.
“It started as a corporate body and is now a full legislature. That brings significantly increased responsibilities, particularly in the areas of scrutiny of public policy, legislation and finance.
“The Board fully recognises the importance of the work that Members and their staff do in their constituencies and regions. This is where the people of Wales engage with their elected representatives.
“The evidence we have, however, points to the desirability of more resources being targeted towards the formal business of the Assembly to meet new and increased responsibilities.
“This is not easy at a time of financial constraint and in a legislature of only 60 Members.
“In this report, we outline measures to enhance capacity in the policy area. We would have liked to have gone further, but recognise that some issues require further consultation before decision in 2014.”
The Board has introduced the following initiatives to address increased policy capacity within the Assembly:
Establishing a Policy Research Fund which provides each of the Assembly’s 60 Members with £2,000 to commission external research;
Enhancing the support to party groups to equip them deal with the complex work of the Assembly as a legislature.
The Board has also increased the pay of Assembly Member Support Staff by one per cent for the 2013-14 financial year.
The total cost of these initiatives is £261,741 but the Board believes that this is more than off-set by the estimated £2million saving that will be made during the course of the Fourth Assembly due to other decisions it has made on Members’ pay and expenses.
“The Board feels that increasing policy and scrutiny capacity is fundamental to the development of the National Assembly for Wales,” Sir George Reid added.
“The Assembly has enhanced powers and we believe the package we have come up with, given the current constraints on the public purse, offers value for money at the same time as ensuring the institution is fit for purpose.”
In its report the Board also sets out the focus for the forthcoming years:
to continue its review of Assembly Members’ pensions;
to reach a decision on the pay arrangements for Assembly Members and holders of offices such as Ministers before the Assembly election in 2016; and
to ensure the whole package of support in place for the next Assembly enables Members to fulfil their duties in all aspects of their work.
The report is available here.