The British government has overruled a review of politicians' pay and decided to raise the salary of Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister to the same level as that of the First Minister. Mr Seamus Mallon's salary is being raised from £47,504 sterling to £62,556 - equal to that of Mr David Trimble. The same amount will be paid to Scotland's future First Minister and to the First Secretary for Wales.
"In view of the unique political situation in Northern Ireland and the joint responsibility which the Deputy First Minister is expected to exercise with the First Minister, the government believes there should be parity of salary between these two posts," the government announced.
The annual salary for members of the Northern Ireland Assembly has been set at £37,000.