HC Deb 12 February 1998 vol 306 cc326-7W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to the staff of(a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office under the Minister without Portfolio since 1 May. [25878]

The Prime Minister

Twenty non-career civil servants have been appointed on fixed term contracts, as casuals or as Special Advisers to No. 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997. None have been appointed to the Cabinet Office under the Minister without Portfolio since that date.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants are employed in No. 10 Downing Street; and what was the number one year ago. [26011]

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) today for the present figures. The number of people appointed on fixed-term contracts, as casuals or as Special Advisers in No. 10 Downing Street in the financial year 1996/97 was 15.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants are employed as information officers in Government departments; and what the number was one year ago. [26010]

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: A non-career civil servant is someone appointed other than on a permanent contract, e.g. fixed term appointments, casuals and special advisers. The figures are as follows:

Department January 1997 January 1998
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 0 0
Cabinet Office 0 0
Department for Culture, Media and Sport 0 0
Ministry of Defence 3 1
Department for Education and Employment 0 3
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 1 2
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 0 1
Department of Health 5 4
Home Office 0 0
Department for International Development 0 0
Lord Chancellor's Department 0 0
Northern Ireland Office 0 0
Prime Minister's Office 0 3
Scottish Office 2 2
Department of Social Security 0 5
Department of Trade and Industry 1 2
HM Treasury 0 0
Welsh Office 0 0