Hansard

Special Advisers: Relationship With Civil Service

Volume 609: debated on Wednesday 2 February 2000

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The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Mr Alastair Campbell has, since May 1997, ever attended meetings on health policy or bilateral meetings between the Prime Minister and Secretaries of State for Health; and [HL598]Whether Mr Alastair Campbell has ever used executive powers given to him by Order in Council in May 1997 to issue directions to civil servants in the Department of Health about (a) policy or (b) publicity on the National Health Service; and [HL599]Whether Mr Jonathan Powell has ever used executive powers given to him by Order in Council in May 1997 to issue directions to civil servants in the Department of Health about (a) policy or (b) publicity on the National Health Service. [HL600]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office
(Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

As special advisers appointed under Article 3(3) of the Civil Service Order in Council, Jonathan Powell and Alastair Campbell have the powers to issue directions to civil servants and have civil servants working for them. Internal advice between civil servants and details of attendance at internal meetings are not normally made public in line with exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.