Junior minister Paisley on father's Westminster payroll

Junior minister Ian Paisley Jnr is on his father's payroll as a Westminster assistant, it emerged today.

The DUP MLA provides paid help to the North Antrim MP and First Minister on top of his role at the heart of the North's government.

He declared his position on the Assembly members' register of interests and is also on Westminster's staff listing.

"If Ian Paisley Jnr is receiving remuneration as an assistant to his father at a time when he is Assembly member and junior minister, I think people would find that extraordinary," said SDLP Assemblyman Declan O'Loan.

"I don't see any way in which a person who is an Assembly member and a junior minister could possibly have the time to devote to Westminster."

Mr Paisley has been a junior minister at Stormont since power-sharing was re-established last May, having previously served as an ordinary MLA. He has worked with his father for 20 years, registering an interest since 1998.

“I have never once received a complaint about my work or my work rate and the people I interact with have extremely pressing problems and they receive an efficient and effective service,” he said.

His responsibilities as minister include young people, European relations, finalising plans for the former Maze prison site, poverty and social exclusion, promoting equality of opportunity and improving investment in infrastructure.