§ Lord Simon of Glaisdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which (if any) "Special Advisers" to Ministers or Members of the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street have recourse to material produced by the Civil Service. [HL534]
§ The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)As temporary civil servants, special advisers have access to material produced by permanent civil servants in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in the Model Contract for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. Their contract lays down their duty of confidentiality, and security and other limited restrictions on their access to papers.