§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the 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. [6941]
§ The Prime MinisterFor information about special advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave to him on 21 November 2001,Official Report, column 340W.
Information about the number of press officers working in the Number 10 Press Office from 1998 onwards is given in the table.
Number of press officers 19981 8 19991 8 20001 9 20011 8 1 31 March Information requested for the earlier years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.