§ 1.Purpose of the Act

The Act aims to help ensure that all those elected to the Storting have the opportunity to carry out their parliamentary duties on equal terms, irrespective of geographic background or personal circumstances. The Act is intended to provide allowances that compensate for expenses, and meet needs arising from the position. Furthermore, the Act seeks to support the sound administration of these allowances.

§ 2.Definitions

Permanent Substitute Members are Members of the Storting (MPs)^​1 who attend for

Temporary Substitute Members are MPs who are called in to serve for MPs who have been granted leave of absence.

In this Act, allowances refer to payments, reimbursements and benefits in kind.

§ 3.Supplementary guidelines

The Storting’s Presidium may give supplementary guidelines about the allowances which are regulated in the Act.

§ 4.Delegation of decision-making authority

The Storting’s Presidium may delegate its decision-making authority under the Act to the Secretary General of the Storting.

§ 5.The Storting’s Remuneration Committee

The Presidium of the Storting shall appoint the chair and two other members of the Storting’s Remuneration Committee, to sit for four years. The Remuneration Committee shall be quorate when all the members are present. The Presidium of the Storting may issue detailed rules to govern the activity of the Remuneration Committee.

The Storting’s Remuneration Committee shall assess MPs’ pay annually, and shall submit its recommendations to the Storting’s Presidium.

§ 6.The Remuneration of the MPs

The Storting determines the remuneration of the MPs, the Prime Minister, and the members of the Government. The remuneration is set as an annual amount.

The President of the Storting receives the same remuneration as the Prime Minister.

The other Members of Parliament receive equal remuneration, with the supplements specified in § 8 of this Act.

One-twelfth of the annual remuneration shall be disbursed each month. This also applies to permanent Substitute MPs during the period they serve.

§ 7.The remuneration of temporary Substitute MPs

Temporary Substitute MPs receive the same remuneration as other MPs for the days or the period for which they are called in to serve. Temporary Substitute MPs are also remunerated for each day or part of a day in excess of six hours which is required for travel to and from the Storting, and which falls outside those days the Substitute MP attends the Storting.

On application, the Storting’s Presidium may decide that a Substitute MP shall retain his or her remuneration during periods for which they are not called to attend, in the following cases:

Remuneration is disbursed at least once a month.

§ 8.Supplementary remuneration

The First Vice President of the Storting shall receive a supplementary remuneration of 14 per cent of the annual remuneration. The other vice presidents shall receive a supplementary remuneration of seven per cent.

The chairs of the Storting’s standing committees shall receive a supplementary remuneration of seven per cent of the annual remuneration. Whosoever deputizes as committee chair for more than five days receives the same supplementary remuneration as the chair for the period as acting chair.

§ 9.Remuneration in advance

On application, the Storting’s Presidium may decide that an MP in exceptional cases may receive up to two months’ remuneration in advance. The terms for entitlement to advance remuneration and the rules for repayment are the same as for government employees.

§ 10.Remuneration during leave of absence

During leave of absence from the Storting, MPs shall retain the remuneration for up to 14 days, unless they renounce such remuneration.

On application, the Storting’s Presidium may decide that an MP shall retain his or her remuneration beyond 14 days during leave of absence in the following cases:

During pregnancy leave, care leave, adoption leave, maternity leave, parental leave, and leave of absence occasioned by the sickness of children or their childminders, MPs shall retain the remuneration in accordance with the corresponding rules for government employees, insofar as the rules are applicable. This shall also apply to temporary Substitute MPs for the period they are called in to serve.

§ 11.Definition of travel types

Official travel is defined as being the travel MPs undertake in connection with their duties in the Storting. Work travel and commuter travel are not considered to be official travel.

Work travel is defined as being the travel MPs undertake between home and their commuter flat or the Storting.

Commuter travel is defined as being the travel MPs as commuters undertake between home and their commuter flat or the Storting, cf. Chapter 4 on MPs’ allowances as commuters.

Family travel is defined as being travel between home and Oslo for MPs’ family members.

§ 12.General information about travel

All travel expenses to be reimbursed by the Storting must be related to the exercise of the individual’s duties as an MP. MPs must document that the travel is connected to this role.

In order to have travel expenses reimbursed, MPs must submit travel expense claims as soon as possible after the completion of the travel. If the Storting has covered costs directly, MPs must submit the travel expense claim within three months.

Based on an overall assessment, the trip must be carried out in the fastest, most economical, and most environmentally friendly way for the Storting insofar as this is compatible with an efficient and responsible execution of the trip. In the event that environmental considerations entail extra expenses, MPs must account for this in the travel expense claim.

§ 13.Official travel

The Storting reimburses the expenses of MPs’ official travel, both domestic and international, under the provisions of or pursuant to this Act.

For an official trip to be covered by the Storting, MPs must document that the purpose and the content of the trip are primarily in an official capacity.

Only documented expenses for overnight accommodation during official travel abroad will be covered.

Official travel abroad related to the work of the permanent parliamentary delegations must be approved by the head of the delegation. All other official travel abroad must be approved by the Storting’s Presidium.

As a general rule, the Storting does not reimburse travel expenses for accompanying persons. However, if it is necessary to bring an accompanying person on a trip, the Storting’s Presidium may decide that this person’s travel expenses shall be wholly or partially reimbursed.

If an MP must bring a child under the age of one on a trip, the Storting’s Presidium may decide that necessary additional expenses for childcare or travel and accommodation expenses for a childminder shall be reimbursed. If there are special reasons, such additional expenses may be reimbursed even if the child is over one year old.

Participation at funerals is considered to be official travel if the participation relates to an MP’s parliamentary role.

The Storting may provide advances to cover expenses for official travel under the same rules that apply for government employees.

§ 14.Work travel

The Storting is considered to be the permanent place of workfor the MPs. Travel expenses between the Storting and an MP’s home or commuter flat are not generally reimbursed.

MPs whose home is more than 40 kilometres from the Storting are reimbursed for travel expenses to and from the Storting upon taking up and leaving office, and at the opening and closing of each parliamentary session.

In the event of documented illness or injury, MPs may be specially reimbursed for transport to and from the Storting.

In the event of compassionate leave, or leave due to illness or injury, MPs may be reimbursed for the expenses incurred for one trip from the Storting or commuter flat to home or another domestic location, and back to the Storting.

Expenses for other work travel may be covered in cases that are specified by the Presidium in the guidelines.

When using a private car, MPs receive car allowance in accordance with the rates for official travel in the state.

§ 15.Family travel

MPs may be reimbursed for travel expenses between their home and Oslo for members of their household. Members of the household are defined as spouses, life partners and children living at home up to and including the calendar year in which the child turns 18. Travel expenses for MPs’ own children who are not members of their household between the child’s home and Oslo are also covered up to and including the calendar year in which the child turns 18.

MPs who live more than 40 kilometres from Oslo are entitled to up to two family trips per year per eligible person. MPs who have sole parental responsibility for a child may also have the travel expenses of the child’s accompanying person reimbursed up to and including the calendar year in which the child turns twelve.

Temporary Substitute MPs who have served for a total of six months or more in the course of a twelve-month period are entitled to reimbursement for family travel under the first and second paragraphs in this section.

§ 16.Commuter flats

MPs whose tax residence is at least 40 kilometres from the Storting, cf. § 3-5 of the Tax Act, may apply to be allocated a commuter flat.

MPs who have access to another residence within the distance requirement in the first paragraph of this section may not be allocated a commuter flat. An MP is considered to have access to a residence if he or she, through ownership or rental, is free to use all or part of the residence on a daily basis. An MP is considered not to have access to a residence if it is fully rented out and if the rental agreement was in place at the time of the application. In special cases, the Storting’s Presidium may make exemptions from the requirement that the rental agreement was in place at the time of the application.

The Storting’s Presidium may set additional conditions for the use of the commuter flats.

§ 17.Commuter travel

MPs whose home is more than 40 kilometres’ driving distance from the Storting and who have a commuter flat may have their travel expenses between the Storting or their commuter flat and their home reimbursed for up to once a week. MPs are reimbursed for up to one additional trip home per week up to and including the calendar year the children in the household turn 18. Until the calendar year in which the child turns 20, exceptions to the age limit may be made in special cases. Substitute MPs who are called in for periods of less than a whole week do not have their travel expenses covered under the provisions of this paragraph.

For weeks in which a public holiday falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, the Storting covers one additional commuter trip between home and the Storting or commuter flat. The Storting covers up to two commuter trips during such weeks.

In special cases, the Presidium may increase the number of commuter trips per week.

The provisions in Chapter 3 apply as far as they are suitable.

§ 18.Moving expenses

The Storting may cover the expenses necessary for one move from home to the commuter flat and one move from the commuter flat to home. The commuter flat must be situated within 40 kilometres’ driving distance of the Storting.

The Storting does not reimburse moving expenses for temporary Substitute MPs.

The Storting does not reimburse moving expenses between commuter flats unless the MP’s relocation has been required by the Storting.

§ 19.Holiday remuneration for temporary and permanent Substitute MPs

Temporary Substitute MPs and permanent Substitute MPs who leave office between 1​^st January and 30​^th June receive holiday remuneration in accordance with the rates set out in the general collective agreement for government employees on the last regular payment day before the Storting adjourns proceedings in June. Holiday remuneration is calculated on the basis of the remuneration the MPs received in the previous calendar year.

For elected MPs who leave the Storting outside of an election, or who are on leave of absence for the remainder of a parliamentary term, the same rules apply as for permanent Substitute MPs who leave the Storting.

Temporary Substitute MPs who, after a decision by the Storting’s Presidium, retain their remuneration in the period after the Storting has adjourned its proceedings in June do not receive holiday remuneration on the last regular payment day before the Storting adjourns proceedings in June. These MPs receive their holiday remuneration in January of the following year in accordance with the rates set out in the general collective agreement for government employees. The calculation for holiday remuneration is based on the remuneration paid in the last calendar year, including any severance remuneration under § 25.

MPs who become members of Government are not entitled to holiday remuneration.

§ 20.Sickness benefit for former MPs

On application, the Storting’s Presidium may grant sickness benefit to MPs and permanent Substitute MPs who are on sick leave at the time they leave the Storting after an election. The same applies to permanent Substitute MPs who leave the Storting.

Sickness benefit is granted under the same rules as those which apply for government employees insofar as these rules are applicable. Sickness benefit from the National Insurance Scheme and employer shall be deducted from the sickness benefit granted by the Storting.

MPs must document their incapacity for work with a medical certificate. Sickness benefit may be withheld if the incapacity is not satisfactorily documented.

§ 21.Temporary Substitute MPs’ childcare expenses

In special cases, temporary Substitute MPs may be reimbursed for necessary and documented childcare expenses. Loss of income for the childminder is not reimbursed.

§ 22.Benefits in connection with an MP’s death in office

If an MP or a permanent Substitute MP should die in the course of the parliamentary term, his or her spouse or life partner, or children under the age of 18 if the MP did not have a spouse or life partner, shall be paid the MP’s remuneration for the month of death plus the following three months.

If an MP or a permanent Substitute MP should die in the course of a parliamentary term, funeral and memorial expenses shall be covered up to 1 times the national insurance basic amount. The same applies if a temporary Substitute MP dies while travelling to or from the Storting, or during the period for which they are called in to serve.

An MP or a permanent Substitute MP must have collective life insurance under the same rules as those which apply for government employees. A temporary Substitute MP must be insured for the period for which they are called in to serve. This paragraph also applies for MPs who are serving in government.

§ 23.Occupational injury insurance and other types of insurance

An MP or a permanent Substitute MP is entitled to occupation injury coverage under the same rules as those which apply for government employees. A temporary Substitute MP has the same rights during the period for which they are called to serve. This paragraph also applies for MPs who are serving in government.

The Storting may arrange insurance for the MPs other than that which follows from this provision.

§ 24.Reimbursement of travel and overnight accommodation expenses for temporary Substitute MPs

Temporary Substitute MPs who have been called in to serve and whose homes are more than 40 kilometres from the Storting will be reimbursed for their travel expenses to and from the Storting and for overnight accommodation during their period of service. For overnight hotel accommodation, a tax-free allowance for additional food expenses equivalent to that for accommodation without cooking facilities will be covered.

§ 25.Severance remuneration

The purpose of severance remuneration is to secure the income of MPs who involuntarily find themselves without income during a transitional period.

On application from MPs and permanent Substitute MPs who are not continuing in the Storting after a parliamentary election, the Storting’s Presidium may grant severance remuneration for a period of up to three months. The same applies for permanent Substitute MPs who leave the Storting during a parliamentary term, and temporary Substitute MPs who have served without interruption for at least twelve months during one parliamentary term. In special cases, the Storting’s Presidium may, on application from a temporary Substitute MP, grant severance remuneration for up to one month for shorter periods of service.

The allowance equates to the standard remuneration under § 6. Supplementary remuneration and increased remuneration to the President of the Storting under § 6 second paragraph and § 8 are not included in the allowance.

Permanent and temporary Substitute MPs may not be granted severance remuneration for more than three months in total during one and the same parliamentary term.

Former MPs who previously received sickness benefit under § 20 may apply for severance remuneration to the Storting’s Presidium. The period of severance remuneration is shortened by the number of days the MP has received sickness benefit.

§ 26.Transition allowance

The purpose of transition allowance is to secure the income of MPs who involuntarily find themselves without income during a transitional period.

On application from MPs and permanent Substitute MPs who are not continuing in the Storting after a parliamentary election, the Storting’s Presidium may grant transition allowance for a period of up to six months in addition to the allowance under § 25. During this period, recipients of transition allowance are required to actively seek employment, start their own business or improve their skills.

To receive transition allowance, an MP must have been elected or served on a permanent basis at the Storting for an unbroken period of at least two parliamentary terms. Permanent Substitute MPs meet the requirement of serving on a permanent basis for at least two parliamentary terms if the start of their term of office was directly connected to the appointment of a government after a parliamentary election. The length of service requirement may be waived in special cases.

The allowance equates to 66 per cent of the standard remuneration under § 6. Supplementary and increased remuneration under § 6 second paragraph and § 8 are not included in the allowance.

Former MPs who previously received sickness benefit under § 20 may apply to the Storting’s Presidium for transition allowance. The period of transition allowance is shortened by the number of days the MP has received sickness benefit.

§ 27.Termination and reduction of benefits

Severance remuneration and transition allowance cease if the recipient has a gross income from a position of at least 30 hours per week.

Benefits shall otherwise be reduced against other income, but only when the total income earned during the benefit period exceeds 0.1 times the national insurance basic amount. Thereafter, the reduction is applied krone for krone against the following taxable income earned during the benefit period:

The second paragraph applies correspondingly to gross pension paid for the benefit period.

Benefits shall not be reduced against holiday remuneration.

Income earned abroad, or income earned in Norway from international organizations is regarded as income under the second paragraph even if the income is exempt from tax in Norway.

Recipients of severance remuneration and transition allowance who become aware that their income has been incorrectly calculated at a lower amount must inform the Storting of this error at the earliest opportunity, and must provide documentation of their actual income.

§ 28.MPs’ duty of disclosure

An MP who applies for benefits from the Storting must submit the information necessary for the Storting to assess whether he or she is entitled to the benefit. An MP who receives a benefit must notify the Storting’s administration of any changes that may be material for his or her right to continue receiving the benefit, or that the Storting’s administration must be aware of to verify the size of the benefit. This duty of disclosure also applies to MPs who have previously received benefits from the Storting.

§ 29.Collection of information from persons other than the MP

If possible, information from persons other than the MP should be collected in consultation with the MP him- or herself so that he or she is acquainted with the information collection.

The Storting’s administration may collect the information necessary to verify whether the conditions for benefits received from the Storting have been or were met in previous parliamentary terms. The information may be collected from present or past employers, pension schemes, educational institutions, financial institutions, accountants, national insurance bodies, the National Population Register and the tax authorities.

Anyone required to disclose information must do so without compensation and notwithstanding any duty of confidentiality.

§ 30.Processing of personal data

The Storting may process personal data, including personal data referred to in articles 9 and 10 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when this is necessary to perform tasks under or pursuant to this Act.

§ 31.Duty of confidentiality for employees in the Storting’s administration

Employees in the Storting’s administration are bound by a duty of confidentiality regarding information about personal matters and about operational or trade secrets as referred to in § 13 of the Public Administration Act. The duty of confidentiality also applies after the employee has left their position. He or she may not use such information in their own business or in the service or work of others. The rules in §§ 13 a to 13 f of the Public Administration Act apply correspondingly.

If an employee receives information which is subject to a stricter duty of confidentiality than that which follows from the first paragraph, the stricter rules apply.

The duty of confidentiality under the first and second paragraphs also applies to others who perform services or work for the Storting’s administration.

§ 32.Repayment and deductions from future benefits

If an MP has received a payment to which he or she was not entitled, and understood or should have understood that the payment was made in error, the Storting may demand repayment of the amount to which he or she was not entitled. The same applies when the recipient, or a person acting on the recipient’s behalf has caused the incorrect payment by having intentionally or negligently given incorrect or incomplete information.

The Storting shall demand repayment pursuant to the first paragraph if the recipient, or a person acting on the recipient’s behalf has acted intentionally or with gross negligence unless there are special reasons for not making such a demand.

If the recipient acted in good faith, the Storting may not demand repayment of more than the amount the recipient had left of the payment at the time he or she became aware of the error. When assessing whether a payment should be reclaimed in whole or in part, consideration should be given to the amount wrongly paid, the time that has passed since the payment was made, and whether the recipient has arranged their affairs in reliance on it.

The Storting may refrain from demanding repayment if the amount wrongly paid is less than four times the court fee. However, this does not apply if the recipient, or a person acting on the recipient's behalf has acted intentionally or with gross negligence.

The first to fourth paragraphs apply correspondingly if what is to be reclaimed is the value of a benefit in kind.

The Storting may require that an MP who has not, within three months, documented expenses paid directly by the Storting shall reimburse the Storting for the expense. The Storting shall waive the claim or repay the amount when documentation has been provided.

To cover claims under paragraphs one to four, the Storting may offset against future benefits. Interest may be charged in accordance with the Act Relating to Interest on Overdue Payments. The claim may be enforced directly. Sections 17(3) and 21(1), (4) and (5) of the Limitation Act shall apply correspondingly.

§ 33.Transitional provisions

MPs who do not continue in the Storting after the 2025 parliamentary election may apply for transition allowance under § 26 above even if they fail to meet the requirement in paragraph three first sentence of the provisions of two parliamentary terms’ length of service. They may apply to receive transition allowance for a period of up to twelve months provided the conditions are otherwise met.

§ 34.Entry into force

The Act enters into force on 1​^st October 2025.

From the same date, the Act of 20​^th December 2016 no. 106 on Remuneration and Other Benefits for Members of the Storting (The Storting Remuneration Act) is repealed.