To ask the Prime Minister what the cost of the paybill for special advisers was in 2002–03; and how many special advisers there are in each pay band, broken down by Department. [126760]
The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2003–04 are as follows:
| £ | |
| Pay band | Pay range |
| Scheme maximum | 131,008 |
| 4 | 78,606 to 94,326 |
| 3 and Premium | 58,693 to 91,181 |
| 2 | 46,116 to 60,278 |
| 1 | 35,635 to 47,362 |
| 0 | Up to 35,634 |
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).
The cost of special advisers in 2002–03 is £5.4 million1 .
1 This figure includes salary, severance pay and an estimate of pensions costs.