To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Council of Economic Advisers has met; when it last met; who the members of the Council are; how many civil servants attended each meeting of the Council; and how much the Council has spent on (a) travel, (b) hospitality and (c) other expenses since June 2007. (268857)

The Prime Minister provides Parliament with details of special advisers through an annual written ministerial statement. This includes members of the Council of Economic Advisers, who are appointed on special adviser terms.

The terms of reference for the Council of Economic Advisers are:

“To advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the design and implementation of policies for the achievement of the Government’s economic objectives.”

In meeting these terms of reference, the Council meets regularly on an informal basis.

Details of the Treasury’s administration costs spending is published in the resource accounts and the departmental report, copies of which are available in the Library and via:

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk