States members’ pay rise rejected by P&R

The panel recommended the introduction of a new system of remuneration from the start of the next States term which would have included an increase of nearly £8,500 a year for members of principal committees.

But unusually P&R has refused to put the panel’s recommendations to a vote in the Assembly, after calculating that they could cost taxpayers an additional £780,000 over the 2025-29 States term.

The senior committee yesterday published its own proposals instead.

‘Ordinarily, the committee would not seek to interfere with an independent panel’s recommendation on pay for deputies and others who serve on States’ committees,’ said P&R.

‘But given the current strain on finances, it believes that an adjustment can be made so that the panel’s proposed pay structure can be achieved within the current budget.’

P&R said its proposals, which are likely to be voted on by the Assembly next month, would keep States members’ pay within the current budget of £2.1m. a year.

They include cutting the annual remuneration of the P&R president from about £84,700 to just under £82,300 and reducing the pay of principal committees’ presidents and P&R members from about £65,100 to just under £63,200 a year.

But members of principal committees, who currently receive about £48,200, would see their annual pay increased to a little over £50,300.

Deputies with smaller committee responsibilities or none at all would be paid just under £46,800.

P&R is also asking deputies to back giving up an annual pay adjustment they were expecting this coming May, seven weeks before the general election, and to agree that in future years their successors’ remuneration will be increased each July, in line with inflation.

In addition, the senior committee wants to introduce 'loss of office' payments of one month’s salary for deputies who lose their seat at an election or have to stand down during a States term owing to ill health.

It is estimated that these payments, which would not be available to deputies who choose to stand down at an election, would cost about £44,000 every four years, based on the outcome of the last general election in 2020.

Future pay review panels will be convened every eight years, rather than every four years, if P&R’s proposals are accepted by the States.