HC Deb 23 June 2003 vol 407 c541W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the people appointed to ad hoc posts within his Department bearing the titles of advocate, tsar, adviser, champion and comparable titles since May 1997; what their job title is or was; what their role is or was; whether they were or are being paid; what the total cost of each such person was in each financial year, including expenses and benefits; what the expected cost of each such person is in 2003–04; to whom they are accountable; and if he will make a statement. [112460]

Mr. Caplin

Since May 1997 the Secretary of State for Defence has appointed the following special advisers:

Name Date
Alisdair McGowan from May 1997 to October 2000
Bernard Gray from July 1997 to September 1999
Andrew Hood from December 1999 to May 2001 and, following the General Election, from June 2001 to May 2002
Richard Taylor from January 2001 to May 2001 and, following the General Election, from June 2001 to date
Michael Dugher from September 2002 to date

All of the above are paid appointments. Under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, details of individual salaries are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned. All the appointees listed above are accountable to Ministers for their decisions and actions.