Thank you, Madam Speaker and hon members. As background to question 1, I should remind this House that as a custodian of state assets one of our responsibilities as the Department of Public Works is to offer accommodation to government departments, state entities, Members of the Executive and Members of Parliament.
The residential accommodation therefore falls under the function known as "prestige accommodation" in our budget. Hon members will recall that in 1994, when the new democratic government was set up, the Melamet commission, which looked at conditions of service for Members of Parliament and the Executive, made a proposal as part of the salary structure, that members need to pay for residential accommodation if they take occupation of such as offered by the state.
This decision was then operationalised by the Department of Public Works through the ministerial handbook, as well as communication through the parliamentary board with Members of Parliament. Cabinet further decided that should an MP utilise both residences in Cape Town and in Pretoria he or she will pay rental on one of them. At the time, hon members would recall, the valuation of an amount to be paid by the MPs was bench-marked to be market related, and included a formula that was developed then.
In 2002, Cabinet took a decision after recommendations by the mandate committee that members of the Executive will pay 1% of their annual salary divided by 12 on a monthly basis. On the other hand, Members of Parliament and session officials are also accommodated in state accommodation in the parliamentary villages according to the Parliamentary Acts. The determination of their rental payment is done after consultation between the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Works, following consultation with the parliamentary board.
If I were to come to the answer directly, Madam Speaker, there is no Member of the Executive that is still owing money and therefore question b and c fall away. Thank you.