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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