To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform who the special advisers in his Department are; what expertise each has; and what the cost of employing them was in the last year for which figures are available. (163421)

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister issued a written ministerial statement on 22 November 2007, Official Report, column 147-50WS. It gives the names of special advisers in post at 22 November 2007, the special advisers’ pay ranges for 2007-08, the number of special advisers in each pay band by Department and the total pay bill cost of special advisers for 2006-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department and its predecessor since 6 May 1997; and what the (a) start and (b) end date of employment was in each case. (184360)

Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 147-50WS.

Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.