§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was to the Government of employing departmental and non-departmental special advisers between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002; and what percentage of this total was(a) salary and related expenses and (b) other costs. [72679]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ellesmore Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) today.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Prime Minister what the cost is of the paybill for special advisers in 2001–02; what the paybands are for 2002–03; and how many special advisers there are in each payband, broken down by department. [73410]
§ The Prime MinisterThe paybands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2002–03 are as follows:
£ Scheme Maximum 128,125 Pay Band 4 76,876 to 92,250 Pay Band 3 and Premium 57,401 to 89,175 Pay Band 2 45,101 to 58,240 Pay Band 1 34,851 to 45,760 Pay Band 0 Up to 34,850 At 22 July 2002, the number of special advisers in each payband by department is as follows:
1371W
Department 0 1 2 3 4 No 101 — 6 6 11 2 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister2 — — 2 1 — Chief Whip's Office — 1 2 — — Culture, Media and Sport — — — 1 — Defence — — 1 — — Education and Skills — — 1 1 — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs — 1 1 — — Foreign and Commonwealth Office — — — 2 — Health — — — 2 — Home Office3 — — 4 — — International Development4 — — — — — Leader of the House of Lords5 — 1 1 — — Lord Chancellor's Department — — — — 1 Northern Ireland Office — — 2 — — President of the Council — — 2 — — Scotland Office — 1 1 — — Trade and Industry6 — 1 1 1 — HM Treasury7'8 — 1 1 2 1 Transport9 — — 1 — — Wales Office — 1 — — — Work and Pensions10 — — — — — Total — 13 26 21 4 The cost of special advisers in 2001–02 is £5.1 million. 1Plus two special advisers who are paid beyond Pay Band 4 but still within the scheme. 2Provision for three full-time posts but currently only 2.5 special advisers employed. 3Includes one special adviser who is part-time. 4One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated. 5Includes one part-time special adviser who provides advice to the Minister for the Cabinet Office. 6Plus one adviser who is part-time and unpaid. 7Includes the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury. 8Plus the five members of the Council of Economic Advisers who are employed on special adviser terms (one in Band 4, three in Band 3 and one in Band I—one is part-time) 9Plus one special adviser who has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated. 10One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.