AMs granted more time to keep family members on the payroll

THE body which decides on Assembly Members’ pay and allowances has performed a Uturn by allowing AMs to carry on employing their relatives until 2026.

Originally, the Remuneration Board decided the practice should end by 2021, but after taking account of representations made to it, has extended its life.

One third of the 60 AMs currently employ members of their own family.

In a letter to all AMs, the Board’s chair Dame Dawn Primarolo states: “[Permitting] employment of family members by Members paid for by publicly funded allowances places the Assembly out of step with current arrangements in the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

“The Board now considers that, as a matter of general principle, the current allowances do not satisfy the need to ensure probity, transparency and objectivity in dealing with all support staff employed by AMs in the same way, nor that the public can have confidence that this is the case.”

The letter goes on to state that performance reviews, dealing with conduct issues and complaints, and any discussion of “dignity and respect issues” are more difficult to undertake in a straightforward and transparent manner where this involves family relationships.

However, following a consideration of the responses it has received to its consultation on the matter, the Board has agreed to provide a longer “transition period” for those family members currently employed by AMs.

The letter states: “The Board believes that extending this date, from 2021 as originally proposed, is a proportionate means of addressing the concerns raised about the impact of the original proposals on the career choices of those affected.”

At present, eight out of 29 Labour AMs, eight out of 12 Conservative AMs, three out of four Ukip AMs and one Independent AM employ family members.

Plaid Cymru decided some years ago not to allow its AMs to employ relatives.

Labour AM Rebecca Evans, the Finance Minister, and Tory AM Mohammad Asghar employ two family members each.

An Assembly insider said: “This report gives licence to some AMs to carry on employing their relations for years to come despite the Remuneration Panel accepting that handing out publicly funded jobs to your immediate family is bad practice.

“Many family members employed by AMs as office managers, researchers and caseworkers have little or no experience to qualify for their jobs.

“It causes a lot of resentment amongst the rest of AM support staff, especially when they get paid less than some family members who don’t do much work.”