§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current salary of a British member of the European Assembly; if he will identify all expenses, including those for travel, secretarial assistants, research, living and all others to which such a member is entitled; and what are the proposed increases in these figures.
§ Mr. BrittanUnder the European Assembly (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979, United Kingdom representatives to the European Parliament receive the same salary as members of this House—that is at present £10,725 p.a.: those who are members of both receive one salary plus one third.
Expense and other allowances for representatives to the European Parliament are fixed and paid by that Parliament. An account of these allowances was set out in a written answer by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 14 February. I understand that an additional allowance for travelling by representatives within their constituencies has now been introduced.