§ 30. Mr. Gowasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will list the Ministers in charge of Departments who do not have special advisers.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe following Ministers in day-to-day charge of Departments do not have special advisers:
- The Lord Chancellor
- The Secretary of State for Employment
- The Secretary of State for Industry
- The Secretary of State for Defence
- The Secretary of State for Scotland
- The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- The Lord Privy Seal
- The Minister for Overseas Development
- The Law Officers.
§ Mr. GowWill the Minister accept and pass on the congratulations of the whole House and the country to those Ministers who do not have special advisers? Will he please reduce the total cost—now running at £205,000 a year—incurred by the 14 Members of the Cabinet who have special advisers?
§ Mr. MorrisI shall be only too delighted to pass on to my right hon. Friends the congratulations of the hon. Gentleman and all others who think like him. At the same time, the hon. Gentleman may recall that special advisers were not unknown to the previous Conservative Administration. At that time, in addition to special advisers, the Civil Service administration had to live with business men's teams, which were an innovation of the previous Conservative Administration. The hon. Gentleman will recall that the appointment of special advisers was a suggestion that was welcomed by the Fulton Committee.
§ Mr. HefferIn view of the policies pursued by some of the Departments concerned, they might be well advised to appoint special advisers. Will my hon. Friend pass on to his right hon. Friends the information that the best advice they could get would be from Back Benchers on the Government side of the House, and that it would be a good idea if we were listened to a little more?
§ Mr. MorrisI am only too eager to listen to the views of Back Benchers on any aspect of Government policy for which I have responsibility.