Remuneration decisions

Decisions are independent and final

The Authority’s decisions on remuneration, both for groups and individuals, are final. This is to ensure the decisions are independent of Government.

When making a determination the Authority is not required to consider budgetary issues within agencies, although the requirement to consider prevailing economic conditions inevitably causes the Authority to consider the impact of its determination on the sector more widely.

The Authority's determinations are not considered or confirmed by Ministers or Parliament, reflecting the Authority’s independence.

The Authority’s decisions are binding on organisations and on the individual role holders.

Authority determinations remain in force until superseded

The Authority normally sets remuneration for a year. Remuneration continues at that level until a new determination is made.

The determinations for work-related expenses for members of Parliament and former Prime Ministers, such as travel, are reviewed once during each term of Parliament.

The Authority sets remuneration against the most recent economic and labour market data, much of which is available only after the expiry of the determinations. Labour market statistics, for example, are generally released 6 to 8 weeks after the date to which they refer. For this reason, any increase in remuneration is often backdated to the day after the expiry date of the previous determination.