To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers was originally drafted; and what changes were made in the July 2005 edition. (119320)

The “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers” was first introduced in 2001. It was revised in July 2005 to take account of recommendations made by the Public Administration Select Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, including clarifying the relationship between special advisers and permanent civil servants and specifying that the role of special advisers is to “assist” Ministers. Copies of both versions of the Code are in the Library should the hon. Member wish to make a detailed comparison.