§ Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the name, (b) the salary, (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in the Department; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2426]
§ Mr. PrescottJoe Irvin, my Special Adviser, was previously my chief of staff when Deputy Leader of the Labour party; Kate Davies, special adviser to the Minister for Transport, was previously his researcher; and David Taylor, my unpaid special adviser, is on temporary leave of absence from his position as Chief Executive of Lancashire Enterprises plc.
The terms and conditions of each appointment are set out in the draft model contract, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Special Advisers are paid within a range of £24,349 to £73,484. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential within this range. Details of this and of previous salary are not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned.
These are my personal appointments following consultation with the Permanent Secretaries of my Departments, and are approved by the Prime Minister.