§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1999,Official Report, column 433, on Special Advisers, if he will set out the terms of the similar arrangements which applied under previous Administrations as they relate to briefing hon. Members of the party in Government. [91858]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 21 July 1999]: The introduction of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers" in May 1997 set out for the first time in a public document the duties and responsibilities of Special Advisers. These include helping to brief party MPs and officials on issues of Government policy, which, like the other duties, is not new. It ensures that Party publicity is factually accurate and consistent with Government policy. Successive Administrations have recognised that this is an appropriate task for Special Advisers.