HC Deb 01 December 1994 vol 250 cc840-1W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they(a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

Mr. Lang

My Department has employed two full-time special advisers over the last five years, although only one, Mr. Gregor Mackay, is in post at present.

Of the previous special advisers to my Department, Mr. Graeme Carter was appointed on 7 August 1987 and re-appointed on 28 November 1990. He resigned on 31 December 1990. Mr Alan Young was first appointed on 22 December 1989 and was subsequently re-appointed twice—on 29 November 1989 and 8 May 1992. He resigned on 2 November 1994.

Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special adviser's salary spine of 34 points, which starts at £19,503. Appointments are non-pensionable and the salary spine reflects this.