HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 cc1034-5W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [6897]

Ms Blears

The information requested is shown in the tables:

Table 1: Special advisers1
(i)Full-time (ii) Part-time
1992–93 1 1
1993–94 1 0
1994–95 1 0
1995–96 1 0
1996–97 2 0
1997–98 2 0
1998–99 2 0
1999–2000 2 0
2000–01 2 0
1 All special advisers are employed by the Department on a contractual basis

Table 2: Press officers1
(i) Full time (ii) Part-time
1992–93 14 0
1993–94 14 0
1994–95 14 0
1995–96 17 0
1996–97 17 0
1997–98 15 0
1998–99 15 0
1999–2000 14 2
2000–01 14 0
1 There were no Press Officers employed by the Department on a contractual basis