Bill Cockburn,
Chairman of the SSRB, said:
“The Prime Minister and the House of Lords have asked us to look
at the whole system of financial assistance given to Members of
the House of Lords. We will examine the existing expenses system
and consider whether it needs revision or replacement in order to
provide the necessary financial support in a clear and accountable
way to Members who carry out important parliamentary duties. We
also need to ensure the system provides value for money to the taxpayer.”
The cross-party House Committee in the House of Lords, which
deals with the internal management of the House, agreed in May
this year to seek a comprehensive and independent review of the
Lords’ allowance system. The Prime Minister therefore asked the
SSRB “to review options for the system of financial support for
Members of the House of Lords … and to make recommendations”. The
Prime Minister has asked SSRB to pay particular attention to the
need for transparency, accountability and value for money, and the
desirability of reducing costs to the taxpayer.
The SSRB is an independent body which advises the Government on
the remuneration of senior positions in the public sector,
including parliamentarians, the judiciary, senior military
officers, senior civil servants and some senior NHS managers. The
SSRB reports annually on pay, pensions and allowances for Members
of both Houses of Parliament.
The consultation is open until 31 July 2009. The SSRB has been
asked to report to the Prime Minister and the Lord Speaker by the
end of October.
Notes for Editors
1. The SSRB’s consultation document, including the full terms
of reference for the review, is available on the website of the
Office of Manpower Economics (OME) (http://www.ome.uk.com/review.cfm?body=4).
The OME provides the secretariat to the pay review bodies.
2. Information on the SSRB’s membership and standing terms of
reference are available at http://www.ome.uk.com/review.cfm?body=4
3. A written statement by Lord Brabazon of Tara, Chairman of
Committees in the House of Lords, announcing the review to the
House of Lords is available at: http://news.parliament.uk/2009/06/review-of-financial-support-for-lords-announced/
Contact: Dawn Camus, Press Officer, 0207 215 8391