MP queries £53.5m assembly bill

More than £50m has been spent on the Assembly since its suspension

More than £50m has been spent on the Northern Ireland Assembly since it was suspended in October 2002.

Stormont minister Ian Pearson made the figure public during NI questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

"The cost of maintaining the NI Assembly since suspension in October 2002 until 31 December 2004 has been £53.5m," he said.

This comprises £23.2m for costs relating to members and political parties, he said.

Mr Pearson added that £20.2m related to costs for assembly staff and £10.1m for property, accommodation and business service costs. The figures were revealed during questioning from North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon.

The North Down Ulster Unionist asked Mr Pearson to justify the continuing costs.

"Could the minister just explain the moral justification for continuing to squander £2m per month on a phantom assembly in Stormont?" she asked.

Mr Pearson replied that it was important to keep the assembly machinery in place for a time when devolution could be restored.

He said £15m had been saved during this financial year and matters would continue to be reviewed.

At the conclusion of intensive political talks at Leeds Castle in Kent in September, the British and Irish governments said the issues of IRA disarmament and future paramilitary activity appeared to be resolved.

However, the two governments were unable to get the Northern Ireland Assembly parties to sign up to a deal over power-sharing after unionists and nationalists clashed over future devolved institutions.

Since that time, a £26.5m raid was carried out on the Northern Bank headquarters in Belfast on 20 December.

PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde blamed the Provisional IRA.

The Northern Ireland secretary and the Irish foreign minister said they were 100% convinced the paramilitary organisation was involved in the robbery.

The IRA has denied involvement.