§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the salary bill was for special advisers in his Department in 2002–03; and what it is expected to be in 2003–04. [108509]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyIn 2002–03 the estimated total expenditure on salaries in the Northern Ireland Office for the two special advisers was £90,068.
As there is currently one special adviser to the Secretary of State, we would expect the salary bill in 2003–04 to be approximately half that of the previous year.