ASSEMBLY Members could be in line for a pay increase of nearly £10,000 a year under new plans.

The independent Remuneration Board for the National Assembly for Wales says Senedd politicians' salaries should go up after the next election because of the extra responsibilities they are taking on.

If implemented, AMs' basic pay would increase by about 18% - from £54,390 to £64,000.

There could also be across-the-board rises for the likes of the First Minister, cabinet members and opposition leaders - ranging between £4,000 to £11,000 a year.

Remuneration board chairman Sandy Blair said he hoped there could be a "measured debate" about the plans - which is open to public consultation from today.

He said: "The fifth Assembly starting in 2016, will be a mature parliament like those in Westminster, in Scotland, with law-making and tax-setting powers.

"With new responsibilities come new expectations on AMs. We are proposing a salary for AMs which reflect the weight of responsibility they carry.

"Clearly people in Wales are facing difficult economic circumstances and there is great pressure on public spending. But that is precisely why Wales needs to attract the highest calibre people to be members of the National Assembly.

"Wales needs good governance and good government. That requires a strong effective Assembly. For that to be so, individual members must be exceptional in their abilities and remunerated accordingly."

Since the Assembly came into being in 1999, the responsibilities its elected officials hold have gradually increased.

Since 2011, the legislation has been able to pass laws in devolved areas without needing approval from Westminster.

Its powers could be about to increase further after a commission recommended the devolution of tax-raising powers, youth justice and policing as well as large-scale energy projects to Wales.

The Remuneration Board said it took these issues into account when drawing up its proposals.

As well as the basic salary increase for AMs, there would be changes to "remunerations" - such as pensions.

Mr Blair added: "Our proposals on pay are part of a package of changes. While the change in base salary will cost around £580,000 in 2016-17, half of that will be offset by savings we are making in Members' pension schemes and in reductions to some of the additional salaries paid to ministers and other office holders."

If given the go ahead, the Board said the First Minister's salary would go up around £4,000 a year to £140,000 but his or her total remuneration would drop around the same amount to £163,200.

Mr Blair told reporters that if salary increases were not implemented the Assembly risked being "belittled" in comparison with the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

When asked whether a pay rise would be a difficult sell to the public, he added: "I think a lot of people will initially be surprised by the figures, but I hope they will understand this is for the benefit of Wales and consider carefully the arguments set out in our report."