Pay issue splits candidates for Alderney States

Wednesday 3rd December 2008, 2:29PM GMT.

WHETHER Alderney’s politicians should be paid a salary divided the candidates at last night’s hustings.

Sitting States members Barry Pengilley and Bill Walden, as well as hopefuls John Beaman, Martin Hunt and Geoffrey Sargent, said they were in favour of States members receiving a flat-rate salary instead of the current system – an attendance allowance of £60 for each half-day session of meetings they attend.

Mr Pengilley said a report produced by Guernsey’s Deputy Bailiff, Christopher Day, was excellent and that a flat-rate figure would encourage young people to stand.

Mr Walden agreed with Mr Pengilley and said such a system would abolish the ‘rigmarole’ of claiming expenses.

Mr Beaman thought members should be paid a combined £60,000 per year rather than £70,000 – a figure suggested by Mr Day in his public report.