Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973

1 The Northern Ireland Assembly

(1) There shall be a Northern Ireland Assembly which shall consist of 78 members.

(2) Those members shall be returned for the constituencies in Northern Ireland which would return members to the Parliament of the United Kingdom if a general election were held at the passing of this Act, and the number of members returned by each constituency shall be that specified for the constituency in the second column of the Schedule to this Act.

(3) The first meeting of the Assembly shall be held on such day, and at such time and place, as the Secretary of State may by order direct.

(4) The proceedings of the Assembly shall not be invalid because of any vacancy in their membership.

(5) There shall be paid to each member of the Assembly—

(a) a salary at the rate of £2,500 a year, beginning with the date on which he is returned as a member of the Assembly, and

(b) an allowance to defray expenses incurred by him on secretarial assistance in carrying out his duties as a member.

The said allowance for the twelve months beginning with the date on which the member is returned shall not exceed £600.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) above any salary paid for any period to the member in respect of his membership of the House of Commons, or of the Senate, of the Parliament of Northern Ireland shall be treated as if paid on account of any sum due under subsection (5)(a) above for the same period.