HL Deb 29 July 1980 vol 412 cc858-62WA
Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish a table showing (a) the salaries; (b) the expenses and allowances and (c) the pensions of:

MPs and MEPs—PAYMENTS AVAILABLE IN RESPECT OF OFFICIAL DUTIES
MP (from UK Government) MEP (from European Parliament) Members of the House of Lords (from UK Government)
Salary £11,750 pa with effect from 13th June 1980. £11,750 pa with effect from 13th June 1980. None.
Notes: Notes:
1. Abated for Ministers. 1. Dual mandate members receive ⅓ (ie £3,917) in addition to full MP's salary.
2. London supplement of £546 pa for Members representing London constituencies.
2. Paid by UK Government, under s.1 of the European Assembly (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979.
Pension No. of years served/60 × salary for pension purposes on retiring None, but Secretary of State may by Order make provision, under s.4 of the European Assembly (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979. None.
Contribution of 6 per cent. of salary annually.
Travel Allowances 1. Reimbursement of all travel within UK on Parliamentary business. Allowed for travel: Reimbursement of cost of travel form main place of residence (within the UK) to London for attendance at the House of Lords.
2. Reimbursement for 15 journeys a year to Westminster for MP's spouses. (a) to each meeting of Parliament from notional point of departure half way between national Parliament seat and MEP's home address.
(b) between place of arrival and place of work, during meetings of the Parliament.
(c) other travel, with prior authorisation, to attend meetings of other community bodies or as a Parliament representative.
(d) allowance of 350 EUA (£212) per month for constituency travel.
Mode of transport allowed: Mode of transport allowed: Mode of transport allowed:
(i) by car-fiat rate allowance of 18.7p per mile, or (i) normal flat rate of 0.34 EUA per km (about 21p per mile) for first 400 km and 0.13 EUA per km (about 8p per mile) for subsequent km. (i) by car—flat rate allowance of 18.7p per mile, or
(ii) by first class rail, or
(iii) by air or (ii) by first class rail, or
(iv) by sea as necessary. (ii) official car from place of arrival to place of work—free up to 20 km, thereafter MEP must contributed 0.3 EUA per km (about 18p per mile), or (iv)by sea, as necessary
  1. (i)Members of Parliament;
  2. (ii) Members of the House of Lords;
  3. (iii) British Members of the European Parliament.

The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Lord Soames)

The information is given in the table below:—

MP(from UK Government) MEP(from European Parliament) Members of the House of Lords(from UK Government)
(iii) free taxi, up to 20 km.
(iv) outside EEC, air fare by most direct route.
Subsistence Allowance Allowed for: 1. 92 EUA (£56 per day of registered attendance at meetings of Parliament and its organs and for up to 4 days (or cost of alternative return travel) in between meetings. Expenses incurred in attending the House are reimbursable up to a limit of £44 per day. This is to cover (i) overnight subsistence (£23) (ii) day subsistence and incidental travel (£11), and (iii).
(a)Provincial member with London home staying overnight to carry out Parliamentary duties in constituency.
(b)Provincial member with constituency home staying overnight in London. 2. Outside EEC, 60-95 EUA (£;37) per day plus free accommodation.
(c)Member with home neither in London nor in constituency, either for nights in London or for nights in the constituency (ie not for both).
Maximum £3,866 pa.
Research and secretarial allowances Allowed for general office expenses, research and secretarial assistance necessarily and exclusively incurred on Parliamentary duties. (i) Flat rate allowance of 500 EUA (£303) per month paid directly to the MEP. Secretarial costs postage and certain additional expenses (£10) per day.
Maximum £6,750 pa (currently being revised). Members as employers liable to pay secondary National Insurance contributions. (ii) Further 400 EUA (242) per month paid on declaration of expenditure.
Additional allowance of £675 to be paid into an approved pension scheme to provide a pension for a secretary or a research assistant. (iii) Up to 1800 EUA (£1,091) per month paid on submission of employment contracts. Total maximum is 32400 EUA (£19,635) pa.
Miscellaneous allowances (a) Free Stationery, free inland telephone and postal service from the Palace of Westminster. (a) Free telephone calls from Parliament.
(b) Severance grant varies according to age and service and is paid if Member loses his seat following a General Election or if displaced due to boundary changes. (b) Free medical treatment required in attending a meeting or journeying to do so, up to BF100,000 (about £1,500) per illness.
(c) An allowance of up to 1/6 of the secretarial allowance towards defraying the expenses of secretarial assistants required in connection with parliamentary duties after a person has ceased to be a Member of the House. (c) free accident and property insurance cover.
(d) Life assurance premiums paid during MEP's term of office. DM20,000 (£4,800) and bonuses and interest paid at age 60, or (if later) after 10 years' service.