§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what was the total cost of special advisers employed in his Department in each of the years(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and what is his forecast for the current year; [114400]
(2) how many special advisers have been employed in his Department in each of the years (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and what is his forecast for the current year. [114399]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 13 March 2000]In the financial year 1996-97, the cost of special advisers in the former Departments of Environment and Transport was £161,563.
The costs for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have been:
£ 1997–98 131,668 1998–99 143,957 1999–2000 163,231 There were three full-time and two part-time special advisers in the former Departments of Environment and Transport and there are three full-time and two part-time special advisers in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. One of these full-time advisers is specifically allocated to the Secretary of State in his role as Deputy Prime Minister. There are no plans to increase the number of special advisers.