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Special Advisers
Gil Paterson (Scottish National Party) | Question S3W-36528
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the names of the special advisers currently in post; what their responsibilities are; what their pay bands are for 2010-11; how many special advisers are in each pay band, and what the total salary cost of employing special advisers was in 2009-10.
John Swinney (Scottish National Party)
There are currently 10 special advisers including one part-time. The Special Advisers and their specific responsibilities are as follows:
| Name | Specific Responsibilities |
| Kevin Pringle Senior Special Adviser | Strategic co-ordination across all portfolios, political spokesperson and senior adviser on communications issues. |
| Noel Dolan Senior Special Adviser | Senior policy adviser to the Deputy First Minister on Health, Wellbeing, and Housing policy. |
| Alex Bell Senior Special Adviser | Senior adviser on policy matters, First Minister’s Questions, constitutional issues and renewable energy issues. |
| Geoff Aberdein Special Adviser | Liaison with FM’s Private office; adviser on FM diary issues. Lead on sports issues and 2014 Commonwealth Games including legacy. |
| Jennifer Erickson Special Adviser | Support on Policy for Economic Issues (Part time) |
| Stephen Gethins Special Adviser | Support on policy for Finance & Sustainable Growth, Europe and External Relations, Environment & Rural Affairs, Energy and Climate Change. |
| Colin McAllister Special Adviser | Policy support for Education and Culture issues. |
| John McFarlane Special Adviser | Policy Adviser on justice issues, Parliamentary liaison working with Minister for Parliamentary Business and the Parliamentary Liaison Officers |
| Will McLeish Special Adviser | Political spokesperson, advice on communications issues and liaison with broadcasters. |
| Stuart Nicolson Special Adviser | Political spokesperson, advice on communications issues. |
The number of salaried special advisers in each pay band from 1 April 2010 is:
| Pay Band | Pay Range | Number of salaried Special Advisers |
| 1 | £39,445 – £52,904 | 5 |
| 2 | £51,041 - £67,709 | 2 |
| 3 | £65,017 - £83,963 | 3 |
| 3 (premium) | £83,549 - 100,942 | 0 |
| 4 | £86,965 - 104,462 | 0 |
The total salary cost for the 10 salaried special advisers in post in 2009-2010 including ERNIC and employer pension contributions was £701,627. By comparison the cost of the 12 Special Advisers employed by the previous administration in 2006-07 was £854,376.