§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the paid political advisers in his private office, their salaries and the procedure for their appointment.
§ Mr. RidleyMrs. K. C. Ramsey is my special (political) adviser and Mr. P. R. J. Rock is special (political) adviser to the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Water and Planning.
It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.
Special advisers are appointed personally by the Minister or Ministers they advise. Appointments are approved by the Prime Minister and an appropriate salary is negotiated between the adviser and the employing department with the approval of the Treasury.