To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his Department's special advisers were on (a) paid and (b) unpaid leave in order to assist with party political matters under section 22 (iii) of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers on 16 May 2007; and how many days' leave each adviser was granted. (140132)

Special advisers’ involvement in party political matters is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct For Special Advisers, including section 22 (iii), and the guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary in December 2006 and May 2007, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Wales Office special advisers are complying fully with this guidance. As with all civil servants, annual leave is a personal matter and it is not the practice of the department to disclose when individuals have taken annual leave.