HC Deb 20 March 1989 vol 149 cc418-20W
Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Prime Minister if she will show in theOfficial Report the previous employment of the special advisers listed in her answer to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham), 29 July 1988, Official Report, column 628.

The Prime Minister

The information is not readily available in the form requested. The previous employment of serving special advisers is as follows:

Previous employment Number employed
Bank of Montreal Capital Markets 1
British Petrolem Company plc 1
Cazenove and Co. 1
City University Business School 1
Guff Investments and Trading 1
Conservative Central Office 4
Conservative Research Department 2
Consolidated Goldfields plc 1
Council of European Communities 1
Daiwa Europe Ltd. 1
Department of Health and Social Security 1
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1
Former Special Adviser 3
Fund-raising for charity 1
Good Relations Group plc 1
Hill Samuel and Company Ltd. 1
Institute of Directors 1
McKinsey and Co. 1
Milk Marketing Board 1
P and O 1
Phillips and Drew 1
Political Office, Number 10 1
RTZ Ltd 1
Secretary to MPs 1
Self employed 1
Student 1

This list covers special advisers who are on secondment from or are still employed, full or part-time, by other employers.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Prime Minister if she will state the total cost to public funds of(a) the special advisers on secondment and (b) the most senior special advisers not paid on the common pay spine.

The Prime Minister

The total annual reimbursement cost to public funds of special advisers on secondment is currently £147,333. The current annual cost to public funds of salary and employer's national insurance contributions for the most senior special advisers is £133,500.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions there are on the activities of ministerial political and special advisers in relation to their giving directions to career civil servants.

The Prime Minister

Apart from secretarial assistance, permanent civil servants do not work directly for special advisers except with my express permission.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions on political activities apply to Ministerial political advisers previously employed as career civil servants.

The Prime Minister

There are two areas of political activity where special advisers may be allowed more freedom than other civil servants. With the approval of the Minister they may attend party functions and maintain contact with party members; and they may take part in policy reviews organised by the party.

In addition, and subject to the approval of the Minister, special advisers are permitted to undertake all forms of local political activity provided they observe the rule of discretion applicable to civil servants. This does not include local activities in support of national politics.

There are no additional restrictions on special advisers who may previously have been career civil servants.

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