§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Minister of State for the Civil Service what is his latest estimate of the aggregate annual cost to public funds of the salaries of persons recruited by members of his Government as political policy advisers from outwith the Civil Service, including the Policy Group under Dr. Donoughue; what was the corresponding figure in January 1974; and what was the percentage change between the two dates.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe estimated aggregate annual cost to public funds of the salaries of special advisers appointed by Ministers since March 1974 is £170,000. The figure for those holding comparable appointments in January 1974 was some £15,000.