HC Deb 25 June 2001 vol 370 cc39-40W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers(a) resigned and (b) remained in office following the announcement of the general election. [381]

Mr. Leslie

Following the announcement of the general election 62 special advisers resigned and 14 remained in post.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much severance pay was paid to special advisers following the announcement of the general election; and how much is due to be repaid by special advisers following their reappointment. [382]

Mr. Leslie

The rules on severance payments for special advisers are the same as those that have applied under previous Administrations. Under the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, any special adviser who receives severance following the announcement of an election but who is subsequently re-appointed is only entitled to retain severance pay of an amount equivalent to the pay that they would have received during the period of the gap between the two periods of employment.

Ministers are currently in the process of appointing their special advisers, so it is not possible to determine the overall cost of severance until this process is completed.