MPs to discuss pay in secret

TRACY WATKINS

Last updated 10:21 25/07/2012

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MPs have taken the rare step of deciding at the last minute to hear evidence over their own pay and conditions in secret.

Parliament's Government Administration committee has been hearing evidence on a bill that puts more power over MPs pay and conditions in an independent body.

Select committee lists circulated last night listed the committee as open and said Speaker Lockwood Smith would be giving evidence.

But Smith, who as Speaker is in charge of MPs' pay and conditions, apparently requested secrecy for his evidence.

Members of the committee are National MPs Chris Auchinvole, Eric Roy and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Labour MPs Ruth Dyson and Trevor Mallard, and Green MP Holly Walker.

The last time MPs were under pressure to hand power over their pay and perks to an outside body, a law change made it most of the way through Parliament before MPs lost their nerve and gutted the legislation in its final stages.

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