Figures released by the NIO show that £1.2 million was spent on producing the Consultative Group on the Past's report, which recommended that terrorists' families get a £12,000 payout.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper, the NIO refused to say how much Lord Eames and Denis Bradley had each been paid in total over the course of the group's existence.

It claimed that Data Protection laws meant it could only say how much they were paid per day – but not how many days they worked.

But the NIO did reveal that the two – had each received £680 per day and that £350 a day had been paid to the six other members of the group – Jarlath Burns, James Mackey, Elaine Moore, the Rev Lesley Carroll, Willie McBride and David Porter.

A further £16,000 was claimed in expenses by members of the group, although who claimed what was not released.

The group has now been wound up and Lord Eames was unable to be contacted yesterday as he was travelling.

Mr Bradley said the payments should be seen in context and that in many other positions, including his role on the Policing Board, he had been poorly paid.

"My experience is that these part-time jobs actually become full-time jobs. You get paid part-time but no one ever takes into account that you're not getting paid full-time.