§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year. [92440]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs two special advisors at any one time, the full cost of which is listed in the tablet. All press officers employed are civil servants whose salary is appropriate to their grade.
£ 1997–98 76,762 1998–99 86,992 1999–2000 89,188 2000–01 94,697 2001–02 138,593 2002–03 131,062 1It was not possible to ascertain the cost prior to 1997 without incurring disproportionate costs.