§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many(a) special advisers, (b) political advisers and (c) political appointees were employed in each financial year since 1994–95; and what the cost was to public funds including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions, National Insurance contributions and support staff. [144115]
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§ Marjorie MowlamThere are currently 78 special advisers in post. The estimated paybill for special advisers in the financial year 2000–01 is £4.4 million. The numbers and pay costs of special advisers in earlier years is as follows:
£ million Year Number of special advisers in post Cost1 1994–95 34 1.5 1995–96 38 1.5 1996–97 38 1.8 1997–98 70 2.6 1998–99 72 3.5 1999–2000 79 4.0 1 Costs include pensions (from May 1997) and salaries. Special Advisers are not normally recruited through open competition. The only exception to this process was the post of UK anti-drugs co-ordinator which was advertised. Recruitment costs for the post of UK anti-drugs co-ordinator are included in cost for 1997–98.