§ Mr. Robert JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared. [62840]
§ Mr. MudieThe Special Advisers in the Department for Education and Employment are Conor Ryan (full time), Hilary Benn (full time), Tom Bentley (part time) and Sophie Linden (part time); equivalent to three full time posts. They advise on the full range of Education and Employment issues for which the Department is responsible. The additional post was agreed by the Prime Minister to provide support to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in dealing with written material, reflecting the particular circumstances he faces in undertaking his job on equal terms with other ministerial colleagues. In addition, Professor Michael Barber has been appointed as Standards and Effectiveness Adviser.
Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.