To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Children and Learners Strategic Advisers posts there are in his Department; when each such post was created; and what (a) salary and (b) job description associated with each is. (303652)

[holding answer 2 December 2009]: Children and Learners Strategic Advisers (CLSAs) will not be employed by the Department. They will be part of a new integrated advisory service based in Government Offices from April 2010. Following a competitive dialogue process, the preferred bidder for the contract to deliver the service is Together for Children and Learners, a partnership led by Serco. CLSAs will provide a single strategic interface between local authorities, Children's Trusts and the Department. They will replace the existing Children's Services Advisers and take on part of the role of the National Strategies Senior Regional Directors to agree local priorities and improvement support across all outcomes for children and young people. There will be around 32 CLSAs with salaries between £75,000 to £95,000.