Special Advisers

Mr. Hayes
To ask the Prime Minister which special advisers appointed since 1997 who have since left are (a) employed elsewhere within Government, (b) employed on contract to the Government and (c) employed within organisations which lobby the Government; and what mechanisms exist for monitoring their compliance with regulations pertaining to a cooling-off period with respect to working on relevant portfolios in the private sector.

The Prime Minister
“The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers” makes clear that the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the “Civil Service Management Code”, apply to special advisers for the first two years after leaving office. Applications which are referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments will be accounted for in the Committee’s annual report. Information for 2005-06 will be provided shortly. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.