The Work of the Previous Independent Panel on Financial Support for Assembly Members

The National Assembly for Wales Commission decided in the autumn of 2007 to seek recommendations on the Salaries, Pensions and Allowances available to Assembly Members (AMs) from a Panel of four independent people and one Assembly Commissioner (non-voting). The Review Panel has published reports setting out its findings and recommendations, with reasons, in relation to salaries and allowances.

The Panel made several recommendations, including conducting: "…a fundamental examination of the pay and system of financial support for Members under the developing devolution settlement. This will allow for further experience of the new powers of the Assembly as they develop to inform the review, and for a new approach to be adopted, tailored for the Assembly, which has the advantages of effectiveness, clarity, transparency and simplicity.”

The Commission, therefore, established a further Independent Review Panel in August 2008 in order to implement this recommendation.