To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent in severance pay to special advisers since 1997. (136331)

Any severance pay to special advisers in the Treasury is made following the terms and conditions set out in the Cabinet Office model contract for special advisers. The total cost of special advisers in Government; including the cost of severance pay, is set out in an annual written statement to the House by the Prime Minister most recently of 26 July 2006.