HC Deb 17 December 1993 vol 234 cc1079-80W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what redundancy terms apply to Ministers' specialist advisers.

Mr. Waldegrave

Appointments of special advisers automatically terminate with the end of the Administration, or on the day after polling day in a general election, or when their appointing Minister leaves his or her present post, or if they resign to take part in national political activities or for other reasons. In some of those circumstances, they may be reappointed. Otherwise, severance payments, subject to tax and national insurance, are made in accordance with the scale in the following table.

Number of months pay in lieu of notice for those aged:
Years of service Under 34 34 35 and above
Less than two 3 3.0 3
Two but less than three 3 3.5 4
Three but less than four 3 4.0 5
Four and over 3 4.5 6

All special advisers, regardless of age, are entitled to one month's severance pay if their appointment is made within six months of the latest date by which a general election must take place, or if they resign to take part in national political activities within six months of their appointment.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are made to ensure that special advisers to Ministers in his Department do not have access to the kind of information, and are not involved in the type of business, that would be likely to create suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.

Mr. David Davis

Care is taken to ensure that special advisers do not have access to the kind of information likely to create suspicion of impropriety. They are not involved in evaluating tenders or letting contracts.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the name and job description of each special ministerial adviser employed in his Department showing any particular outputs for which each adviser is responsible.

Mr. Waldegrave

I have appointed Mr. David Rutley to be my political adviser. Mr. Rutley will take up his appointment on 4 January 1994. His duties will vary. Dr. John Nicholson provides me with expert advice on a range of issues relating to public sector management.

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