cash.

For salary increases of 2.5 percent -- the rate of inflation in December last year -- have been approved across the board, starting from April 1.

The move means Premier David Saul will earn $89,155 a year compared to $86,981 for the previous financial year.

The next top earner will be Minister of Finance Grant Gibbons -- up from $84,937 to $86,044.

And Deputy Premier Jerome Dill's salary will rise from $69,840 to $70,749.

All other Ministers in the lower House will earn $62,932, compared to the previous rate of $61,398.

The top earner on the Opposition side of the House will be PLP leader Jennifer Smith. Her salary will go up to $52,444 from $51,165.

The basic rate for an MP will rise from $30,699 to $31,466, while the salary for a Senator will jump to $20,978 from $20,466.

But House Speaker Ernest DeCouto will get an allowance of $18,356, boosting his salary to $49,822, up from $48,607, while Deputy Speaker Stanley Lowe will get an extra $9,178, taking his earnings to $40,644 ($39,653 last year).

Parliamentary Secretaries in both the House and the Senate will get an extra $7,867 to cover the responsibility -- up from $7,675 -- while Party Whips will get a further $5,245, compared to $5,117 in the previous financial year.

Senate President Albert Jackson will take home $31,467 ($30,699 last year) while Vice-President Alf Oughton will receive $23,076, compared to $22,513 in the previous financial year.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said increases for MPs were pegged at inflation after they got a 27.9 increase spread over two years in 1995 and 1996.

SENATE SENATORS SEN