To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the office costs for his Department's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers. (164920)

One civil servant supports the special adviser in my office. He provides administrative support of a non-political nature in accordance with the code of conduct for special advisers and also provides support to the private offices.

Individual civil servants' salary details are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned. Office costs will be accounted for in the 2007-08 departmental annual report and accounts.