§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) special advisers, (b) task force members and (c) review body members his 63W Department employs; what is the total salary and benefits of (a) to (c); and what was the equivalent cost prior to 1 May. [19304]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department employs two special advisers. Details were set out in the answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 November 1997,Official Report, columns 615–17.
For information on the total paybill for special advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) and for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.
No task force members are employed by the Department.
There are currently two Reviews involving external members, none of whom are paid a salary by the Department. However, the Department does pay an attendance allowance for meetings attended and reimburses reasonable travel and subsistence costs.
It is not possible to distinguish the cost of officials' time spent on Task Force and Review related work.