A new review of Tynwald members’ pay is being called for - with the proviso that any findings don’t result in an increase for the overall wage bill.

The recommendation is contained within a report from a select committee chaired by Speaker Juan Watterson. It also opens the door for MHKs and MLCs to be paid different amounts.

At present the basic pay for Tynwald members stands at £41,346.50, which is linked to a specific point on the civil pay scale. The chief minister receives 80% on top of that (taking it to £74,423.71), the Speaker 60% (£66,154.40), ministers and the President of Tynwald 50% (£62,019.75). Treasury department members and the Public Service Commission chairman receive a 40% top-up (£57,885.10) and members of other government departments 30% (£53,750.45).

Those chairing statutory authorities receive an extra 10% of the basic pay.

Members’ pay was covered by the Lisvane Report on parliamentary reform. He approved of the link to civil service pay but recommended that chairman of major committees should receive a 50% top-up, rather than the current 40%.

Initially, Tynwald decided that Mr Watterson’s select committee on the functioning of Tynwald should review MLCs’ pay, but that was later extended to cover all pay and allowances.

The committee said, in a report to go before Tynwald next week, that there should be no change to linking Tynwald members’ pay to civil service pay.

’We do, however, draw a distinction between the pay for MLCs and MHKS,’ it added.

’The terms of reference expressly allow for the role of an MHK and an MLC to be considered separately, to enable a full range of options for the review.’

It sets out the parameters for any inquiry:

Salary and benefits must be ’sufficient to allow anyone to be able to serve in Tynwald’ and ’at a level to attract a diverse collection of community members’.

Enhanced executive and scrutiny roles should be recognised.

Any change to the structure for pay and allowances must not result in an increase in overall costs of members’ remuneration.

The recommendations should maintain the principle of linking members’ basic pay to civil service salary levels.

Coincidentally, in an entirely separate motion next week, members will be asked to approve technical amendments to the Tynwald members’ resettlement grant scheme, which provides a parachute payment of six months’ basic pay - the equivalent of about £20,670 - to any MHK or MLC who unsuccessfully stands for re-election but has not reached the age at which they qualify for a Tynwald pension.

The changes will see reference to the previous Tynwald members pension scheme removed and a fixed pension age threshold of 60 included.