HC Deb 18 July 1997 vol 298 cc340-1W
Mr. Hawkins

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the persons who were not established civil servants on 2 May whose salaries are currently being paid by Government Departments, identifying those who previously assisted the campaigning activity of the Labour Party under the present Minister without Portfolio; and if he will list the current salaries and positions held by each of these persons. [5421]

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: It would be impracticable to list all persons who were not established civil servants on 2 May, whose salaries are currently being paid by Government Departments, since this would include all civil servants recruited since this date. In respect of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Members for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) and for Worthing, West (Mr. Bottomley) on 2 June, Official Report, columns 97–99. In addition, my right hon. Friend, the Chief Whip, has now appointed two Special Advisers, Mr. Tom Greatrex and Mr. Kieran Simpson and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, has appointed Mr. Hilary Benn. All paid Special Advisers have at some stage in their careers been employed either by the Labour Party or by individual members of a Labour Shadow Cabinet except:

  • Huw Roberts
  • Norman Warner
  • Damian Welfare.

As regards the current salaries of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 10 June, Official Report, column 390.

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