Assembly allowances to be scrutinised

Allowances for office costs, food and travel at the North's Assembly are to come under the microscope, it was announced today.

This follows weeks of revelations about MPs at Westminster claiming for expenditure like clearing moats and duck islands.

As part of its consideration of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) report on MLAs’ salaries and allowances the Assembly Commission, which runs the legislature, has begun the review.

Assembly Speaker William Hay said: “The Commission has been considering the SSRB report in recent months.

“We want to ensure that the Assembly is open, transparent and demonstrates value for public money.

“Our goal is to have in place a model of best practice which is effective in supporting MLAs in their important work on behalf of the community and which commands public confidence.”

The Commission has decided to publish more detail about MLAs’ individual claims starting in this financial year.

“This will be implemented as soon as administrative and IT arrangements are in place,” a spokeswoman added.