§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Prime Minister if he will publish(a) the latest functions and (b) the salary of Mr. Alastair Campbell; and what changes have been made to them following the announcement of his new role relating to the Central Office of Information. [37158]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 26 February 20021]: Alastair Campbell is appointed under Article 3(3) of the Civil Service Order in Council. He is responsible for Communication and Strategy and in that role covers the work of the Press Office, the Strategic Communications Unit and the Research and Information Unit.
The Cabinet Office have already announced that following the quinquennial review of the Central Office of Information the Chief Executive of the COI will have an additional role as the Government's chief adviser on marketing communications and information campaigns and works with the Director of Communications and Strategy at No. 10. This will strengthen the coordination and planning of departmental publicity strategies across Whitehall and changes should be in place by 1 April 2002. The Chief Executive of the COI remains fully accountable to Cabinet Office Ministers for the work of the COI, and they remain accountable to Parliament. Individual departments remain responsible for individual campaigns.
Under the terms of the Order in Council Alastair Campbell is not restricted to an advisory role and is allowed to direct and manage permanent civil servants. On pay, I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 850W.