Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill

Key Points

• Increases three salary caps: Secretaries of State from 21 to 22; Secretaries of State and Ministers of State from 50 to 54; and Secretaries of State, Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries from 83 to 94, across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Total number of paid ministerial salaries would rise from 109 to 120; the minimum number of Lords ministers eligible for salaries would rise to 25.
• The Bill has government backing in the Commons and, once enacted, would come into force immediately across the UK; estimated cost to the public purse is £600,000–£850,000 per year.
• The Bill’s journey shows cross‑party scrutiny in the Lords, where the Committee stage was negatived on 14 April, but the Bill proceeded to report stage and 3rd reading on the same day.
• Explanatory notes emphasise that the changes adjust quotas within the existing framework, with the Act to be cited as the Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Act 2026.

Progress

The Bill started in the Commons (Mar 2026) with government backing and moved through to 3rd reading. It then went to the Lords (Mar–Apr 2026), where the Committee stage was negatived on 14 April, but it continued to the Lords’ report stage and 3rd reading the same day. Royal Assent was anticipated for 29 April 2026.