In total 25 Members have informed the department that they do not wish to receive the £818 a year extra in their pay packets that they are entitled to, representing a saving to the taxpayer of £20,450.
The remaining 26 Members, who were all given until Monday to inform the Treasury if they wanted to decline the rise, will take the money, which will bring them up to a total salary and automatic expenses of £46,000 a year, providing they have taken previous pay rises.
