§ 34. Mr. Gowasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of special advisers to Ministers; what is the total of their annual remuneration; what were the equivalent figures on the same date in 1977; and whether there is any time limit on their appointment, apart from the end of the Administration.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThere are currently 25 special advisers to Ministers and their total annual remuneration is £196,000. In November 1977 there were 27 special advisers with a total annual remuneration of £202,000. Special advisers' appointments terminate automatically with the end of the current Administration. Their appointment may subsequently be renewed if there is no change of Government. There is no specific time limit.
§ 37. Mr. Whitneyasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many persons now in Government service stand to benefit from the changes to the Civil Service Order in Council 1969 effected by the Civil Service Order in Council of 29th September 1978 which establish that the term of appointment for special advisers is no longer subject to the five year limit previously observed by the Civil Service Commissioners.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Civil Service Commissioners have never certificated special advisers, since they are appointed directly by Ministers to serve for the duration of the current Administration. Twenty-five advisers are now 23W serving on this basis. They are not considered to fall within the scope of the existing Order in Council, and have been specifically excluded from the terms of the Civil Service Order in Council 1978 which comes into force on 1st December next.