Dyson Ruth: Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDyson Ruth: Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 12 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14584. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills): Thank you very much Mr Chairman. I am pleased that you recognise me. We have worked together quite a lot and I think I would be quite disappointed if you did not actually. I want to make a small contribution in relation to Part 3 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill and in particular draw the attention of members in this debate to what I think is actually one of the most important parts of this bill: the principles that are outlined in clause 17.Clause 17 “Principles” talks about what the Remuneration Authority the Speaker and the Minister responsible for Ministerial Services must have regard to in setting determinations or issuing instructions. It says some really important things. Clause 17(1)(a) says: “that the entitlements of members of Parliament and Ministers to support services should be determined in a way that—(i) recognises the need for public understanding of the work of those persons and their parties and the services they require to enable them to carry out their roles and functions;”. It is really important that we recognise the need for public understanding and also the fact that it is the public who is funding these support services.What also has to be considered is that any such determination has to facilitate “the delivery of support services in an efficient and effective manner;” so we cannot be frivolous in terms of the support services we have. They have to be efficient and effective. A determination recognises “the need to be fair to the taxpayer;”. That is a really important principle to have in the legislation. It “promotes transparency in relation to the allocation and use of public money to provide the support services necessary for members of Parliament Ministers and parties to carry out their respective roles and functions; and (v) maintains confidence in the integrity of Parliament; and (vi) maintains the independent of the Remuneration Authority:”.I think we should be very appreciative of the fact that in New Zealand we have those principles of fairness of transparency of public understanding and support and of maintaining confidence in the integrity of Parliament and the independence of the Remuneration Authority. I bet that many other countries around the world would be very envious of us having in our legislation such provisions. I think as New Zealand members of Parliament we should be very proud that that is actually the legal requirement for those different bodies when setting determinations or issuing directions.The other important provision that I just want to draw to the attention of the Committee is also in the same clause but it is actually subclause (1)(b). It relates to what is often seen as the tension between what members of Parliament need to do their job properly—whether it is a phone or a flight to a meeting or an engagement you have been invited to or have to attend as a constituency MP or as a portfolio holder in that area—or some other support service that is provided to us in order to do our job. The tension arises when members of public see that support service as a private benefit.I want to just draw the attention of the Committee to 17(1)(b) which says: “that if services provided include an element of remuneration or result in any other private benefit the value of that benefit should be taken into account by the Remuneration Authority in determining relevant salaries and allowances…”. So if there is a private benefit that is gained by a member of Parliament through any of the other support services that we are given the Remuneration Authority say: “Well you gain X Y and Z from that particular determination. You gain that as a private benefit. Therefore when it comes to setting the salaries of members of Parliament that amount will be deducted.”I think that having that transparency is really important so that the Remuneration Authority does not do it behind closed doors. It can actually say: “This is the private benefit that a member of Parliament gains from that determination and therefore we are going to take that same amount off their salary when we take into consideration any increase or adjustment to the salary.” I am very pleased with those two provisions. I think they are very important and enhance the strength of this bill.The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 389 in the name of the Rt Hon John Key to Part 3 be agreed to.Amendments agreed to.