§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by his Department in each year since 1992. [6905]
§ Mr. LeslieThe information is not held in the form requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
343WAll special advisers are appointed under the terms of the model contract for special advisers. At 1 November 2001, there were 81 special advisers in post across all Departments. Figures for the years since 1995–96 are as follows:
Year Number 1995–96 38 1996–97 38 1997–98 70 1998–99 74 1999–2000 78 2000–01 79 Information about the number of press officers working in the Cabinet Office Press Office for the period from 1996–97 to 1998–99 is contained in Appendix 10 of the Report on the Government Information and Communication Service by the Public Administration Select Committee dated 29 July 1998. Copies of the report are available in the Libraries of the House. On 1 January 2000, there were 20 press officers in the Cabinet Office Press Office; at 1 January 2001, there were 16, and there are currently 18.