§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what the(a) number and (b) salary cost of special advisers was in each Department in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement; [147656]
(2) what the total salary cost for special advisers is estimated to be for 2003–04; and how many special advisers there are in each pay band, broken down by Department. [147657]
§ The Prime MinisterSince July 2002, I have published on an annual basis details of the number of special advisers by pay band and Department and their overall cost. Information for the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04 is available in the Library of the House. The total salary cost for special advisers in 2003–04 will be published as soon as the information is available at the end of the financial year.
835WFor information for the period 1995–96 to 2000–01, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave to him on 31 January 2003, Official Report, columns 1056–57W.