A review of Stormont pay and expenses has questioned double pay packets for MLAs who are also MPs.

The independent study said: “We see no reason for MLAs who are also Members of Parliament to be paid more than their Westminster salary.”

The comment was made by the Hays Group, a consultancy firm brought in to assist work by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).

Its findings on the Assembly are published today alongside the main SSRB report.

The SSRB document said it found Hay’s arguments and conclusions on double jobbing “compelling”.

And it recommended a “thorough” review into dual mandates by the Assembly.

The Hay Group pointed out that double-jobbing politicians are entitled to full expenses at Westminster and Stormont.

It further noted that there are now no members of the Welsh Assembly in the Commons, and just one Scottish elected representative with jobs in both the Edinburgh and London Parliaments.

Northern Ireland politicians who sit in the Assembly and House of Commons have a combined annual salary of some £76,000 — not counting additional payments if they are Stormont ministers or committee chairs.

The Hay Group said it had only been able to |complete interviews with 14 MLAs as part of its research

The £76,000 involves an MP’s salary plus a two thirds reduction in the standard MLA wage, due to the dual roles.

Their expenses entitlements, meanwhile, include £73,000 a year for office costs from the Assembly and a further £107,000 from the Commons for office-running expenditure.

The Hay Group said it had only been able to complete interviews with 14 MLAs as part of its research — half the number it had originally intended.

It reported that there was “considerable nervousness” from members on the subject of pay and expenses.

The consultants further stated: “None of our interviews suggested there are two amounts of constituency work generated for MLAs who also serve as MPs in the same constituency.”

The Hay Group said it was not in a position to make “firm recommendations”.

But it added that an “immediate in-depth review” could be justified on the pay and expenses of dual mandate holders.

Sixteen of Northern Ireland’s 18 MPs are currently also MLAs.

The five Sinn Fein MPs do not receive Commons salaries as they do not take their seats there.

However, they do receive a range of expenses from Westminster.

Around two thirds of MLAs are also councillors, a role entitling them to at least £9,500 a year.