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Government Departments: Special Advisers

Volume 685: debated on Monday 9 October 2006

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Home Office; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6938]

2.5 members of staff currently support the special advisers to Ministers in the Home Office. Staff are employed to provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6940]

Four members of staff currently provide support to the special advisers to Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office among other duties. Staff provide general administrative support to special advisers including diary management, filing and arranging meetings. This support is of a nonpolitical nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6941]

Two members of staff are employed to support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government. These staff provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for International Development; and what is the nature of their services.[HL7017]

Special advisers in the Department for International Development are supported by one assistant, who is employed to provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 July (WA 204), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the three assistants to special advisers within the Department for Transport.  [HL7164]

Staff provide general administrative support to special advisers, including diary management, filing and arranging meetings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 20 July (WA 203), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the two assistants to special advisers within the Department of Health. [HL7165]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 20 July (WA 204), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the three full-time assistants to special advisers to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.[HL7166]

As set out in paragraph 11 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, business support staff are employed “to provide support of a non-political nature”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 20 July (WA 204), what is the nature of the services provided by the member of staff and the Private Office staff to the special advisers within the Northern Ireland Office. [HL7167]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the role of Mr Phil Taylor, political adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; on whose authority he makes decisions; and whether he has a role in the selection and transmission of information from senior civil servants to the Secretary of State. [HL7202]

The special adviser’s role and relationships with departments and officials are in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers issued by the Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics Team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Adonis on 24 July (WA 226), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the four assistants to special advisers within the Department for Education and Skills.[HL7233]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 24 July (WA 226), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the three assistants to special advisers within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [HL7234]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 24 July (WA 226), what is the nature of the services provided by the assistant to special advisers within the Cabinet Office.[HL7235]

Administrative support of a non-political nature is provided to special advisers within the Cabinet Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 24 July (WA 226), what is the nature of the services provided by the two assistants to special advisers within the Department of Trade and Industry.[HL7236]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 25 July (WA 260), what is the nature of the services provided by the assistant to the special advisers within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[HL7320]

Staff provide general administrative support to special advisers including diary management, filing and arranging meetings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 25 July (WA 286), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the two assistants to the special advisers within the Department for Work and Pensions.[HL7321]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 25 July (WA 259), what is the nature of the services provided by each of the two assistants to the special advisers in the Department for Constitutional Affairs.[HL7322]