§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknishasked Her Majesty's Government:
In which Government departments a special adviser is paid more than the parliamentary under-secretary. [HL2946]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonSpecial advisers are paid within a salary range of £24,836 to £74,954. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential. All special advisers are paid more than parliamentary under-secretaries in the Commons (whose Ministerial salary is £24,273). Thirty-one special advisers are paid more than parliamentary under-secretaries in the Lords (who are paid £44,832). In line with the practice of successive Administrations it would not be appropriate to identify the Government departments where a special adviser is paid more than a parliamentary secretary in the Lords in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.