HL Deb 16 July 2003 vol 651 cc119-20WA
Baroness Gould of Potternewton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost of the paybill for special advisers in 2003–03, what are the pay bands for 2003–04 and how many special advisers are in each pay band, by department. [HL4072]

The Lord President of the Council (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2003–04 are as follows:

£
Scheme Maximum 131,008
Pay Band 4 78,606 to 94,326
Pay Band 3 and Premium 58,693 to 91,181
Pay Band 2 46,116 to 60,278
Pay Band 1 35,635 to 47,362
Pay Band 0 Up to 35,634

At 14 July 2003, the number of special advisers in each pay band by department is as follows:

Department Pay band
0 1 2 3 4
No 101 5 6 11 2
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 22 1
Chief Whips' Offices (Commons and Lords) 1 2
Constitutional Affairs 1
Culture, Media and Sport 1
Defence3 2
Education and Skills11
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs11
Foreign and Commonwealth Office2
Health21
Home Office42
International Development31
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords14
Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons52
Northern Ireland Office1
Secretary of State for Wales1
Trade and Industry6111
HM Treasury7,81111
Transport311
Work and Pensions2
Minister without Portfolio52
Total1626204

The cost of special advisers in 2002–03 is £5.4 million9.

1 Plus two special advisers who are paid beyond Pay Band 4 but within the scheme maximum.

2 Includes one part-time adviser.

3 Includes one special adviser under their provisional pay band whose job has not yet been evaluated.

4 Appointed by the Lord President on a part-time basis. Also works part-time to the Home Secretary providing cover for a special adviser who is on maternity leave.

5 Includes two special advisers under their provisional pay bands whose jobs have not yet been evaluated.

6 Plus one adviser who is part-time and unpaid.

7 Includes the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury.

8 Plus the five members of the Council of Economic Advisers who are employed on special adviser terms (two in Band 4, two in Band 3 and one in Band 1—one is part-time).

9 This figure includes salary, severance pay and an estimate of pensions costs.