To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many political advisers were employed in each Government department on 1 August, and what was the annual total salary cost of such advisers, for (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94, (iii) 1994–95, (iv) 1995–96, (v) 1996–97 and (vi) 1997–98; what are the current salary scales on which they are paid; and if he will make a statement. [14806]
At 1 August, Government departments employed the following numbers of paid Special Advisers:
Department | Number employed |
Number 10 Downing Street | 118 |
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | 2 |
Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service) | 1 |
Chief Whip's Office | 2 |
Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 22 |
Ministry of Defence | 2 |
Department for Education and Employment | 15 |
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions | 23 |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office | 2 |
Department | Number employed |
Department of Health | 2 |
Home Office | 2 |
Department for International Development | 2 |
Lord Privy Seal's Office | 2 |
Northern Ireland Office | 2 |
Privy Council Office | 1 |
Scottish Office | 2 |
Department of Social Security | 2 |
Department of Trade and Industry | 2 |
Her Majesty's Treasury | 4 |
Welsh Office | 2 |
1 Of which two part-time. | |
2 Of which one part-time. |
- 1 August 1993–31 July 1994: £1,133,590
- 1 August 1994–31 July 1995: £1,460,733
- 1 August 1995–31 July 1996: £1,512,622
The total paybill from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 was £1.8 million. The estimated paybill for 1997–98 is £2.6 million. The estimated total paybill for 1997–98 covers various posts, including the Standards and Effectiveness Adviser to the Department for Education and Employment, the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator and his deputy, which are not covered by the earlier paybill figure.
No projected figures are available for future years.
The current salaries in bands of £10,000 are set out in the following table.
Salary band (£)
| Number of Advisers
|
10,001–20,000 | 6 |
20,001–30,000 | 25 |
30,001–40,000 | 14 |
40,001–50,000 | 8 |
50,001–60,000 | 6 |
60,001–70,000 | 6 |
70,001–80,000 | 1 |
80,001–90,000 | 2 |
90,001–100,000 | 0 |
100,001–110,000 | 1 |
The table includes the nine Special Advisers appointed since 1 August.