§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the names of all those that they have appointed since May 1997 to ad hoc posts or positions bearing the names of "Advocate", "Adviser", "Champion", "Envoy", "Tsar" and similar titles; whether or not in each case they are paid, and, if they are, stating the amounts paid; and to whom they are accountable. [HL753]
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)At 26 November, Ministers had appointed the the following special advisers:
92WA
The Prime Minister1 Jonathan Powell Alastair Campbell Sally Morgan Hilary Coffman Peter Hyman Geoff Norris Roger Liddle Andrew Adonis Katie Kay Derek Scott David Bradshaw Kate Garvey Catherine Rimmer Liz Lloyd Carl Shoben Chris McShane Simon Stevens Ed Richards Carey Oppenheim Fiona Millar Phil Bassett Justin Russell Alasdair McGowan Joanna Nadin Patrick Diamond Sarah Hunter 93WA
Chief Whip (Commons) Sue Jackson Fiona Gordon Chief Whip (Lords) Margaret Ounsley Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Bill Bush Ruth Mackenzie Secretary of State for Defence Richard Taylor Andrew Hood Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State Joan Hammell Ian McKenzie Anna Healy—p/t Paul Hackett—p/t Secretary of State for Education and Skills Will Cavendish Chris Boffey Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Sheila Watson Nicci Collins Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ed Owen Michael Williams Secretary of State for Health Darren Murphy Paul Corrigan Secretary of State for the Home Department2 Sophie Linden—p/t Nick Pearce Katherine Raymond Huw Evans Leader of the House of Lords Matthew Seward Deborah Lincoln Lord Chancellor Garry Hart Secretary of State for International Devlopment David Mepham Susannah Cox Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Richard Olszewski Steve Bates President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons Greg Power Meg Russell Secretary of State for Scotland Nick Comfort George McGregor Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Jim Godfrey Roger Sharp—p/t and unpaid Kitty Ussher Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions Jo Moore—p/t Dan Corry Michael Dugher Chancellor of the Exchequer3 Ed Balls Chief Economic Adviser Ian Austin Ed Miliband Chief Secretary Nicola Murphy Spencer Livermore Secretary of State for Wales Andrew Bold Adrian McMenaman Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Andre Maugham Kieran Simpson 1 In addition Pat McFadden has been appointed as a special adviser on a short-term contract in the Coalition Information Centre in Islamabad. 2 In addition, Keith Hellawell has been appointed, on special adviser terms, in an advisory role on international drug issues.
3 In addition, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Paul Gregg, Maeve Sherlock, Shriti Vadera, Chris Wales and Stewart Wood to the Council of Economic Advisers on Special Adviser terms. With the exception of one special adviser, all of the above are paid appointments. Under exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, details of individual salaries are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned. The Prime Minister has appointed independent advisers to work with the new Forward Strategy Unit (FSU). These roles are unpaid. Those appointed are:
- Arnab Banerji—Chief Investment Office of F&C Management Ltd.;
- Nick Lovegrove—Partner at McKinsey's;
- Penny Hughes—formerly President of Coca Cola Great Britain and Ireland, currently non-executive director of Vodafone plc and Trinity Mirror plc;
- Adair Turner—Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch.
Lord Birt, the Prime Minister's unpaid strategy adviser, will have an overarching role on a number of projects supported by the FSU.
In addition, Ministers have appointed the following unpaid advisers:
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Sue Nye
Leader of the Commons and David Mathieson
President of the Council:
As far as I am aware, the only civil servant with a title of the names described is Andrew Pinder, who is the e-envoy.
All the appointees listed above are accountable to Ministers for their decisions and actions.
On public appointments, Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, also acts as Rural Advocate. He is not paid for the latter appointment. Up-to-date information on appointments to non-departmental public bodies will shortly be available in the annual public bodies publication. For details of appointments made to task forces, review groups and other ad hoc advisory groups, I refer the noble Lord to the Answers given to the House on 20 November (Official Report, col. WA 137).
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 22 October (WA 113), what are the criteria for exceptions to the rule of two special advisers per Cabinet Minister and for the Prime Minister. [HL1377]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonI have nothing further to add to my previous answer.