Departmental Pay

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 956W, on departmental pay, what the average annual salary is of special advisers in his Department. (323990)

The average annual salary is of special advisers in this Department is £72,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average pay and pension cost, including employer national insurance contributions, is for a press officer in his Department. (324037)

The average pay and pension cost for a press officer (including salary, employer's national insurance contributions and pension costs) in this Department is £48,214.