Political Advisers

Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 November 1991.

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Photo of Mr David Shaw Mr David Shaw , Dover 12:00, 11 November 1991

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what plans the Government have to expand the numbers of political advisers employed in the civil service.

Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex

The Government have no plans to increase the total number of special advisers. The appointment of a special adviser is a matter for each Minister in consultation with the Prime Minister as necessary.

Photo of Mr David Shaw Mr David Shaw , Dover

Has my right hon. Friend seen press reports that Labour Front-Bench spokesmen are proposing that Governments should set up within each Department a large cabinet——

Photo of Mr Bernard Weatherill Mr Bernard Weatherill , Croydon North East

Order. What has this to do with Government responsibility?

Photo of Mr David Shaw Mr David Shaw , Dover

They propose that the Government should set up in each Department cabinets with large numbers of staff to monitor and control the civil service. Has my right hon. Friend any idea of the sort of people who would be chosen to fill those posts?

Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex

My hon. Friend asks an extremely important question. I saw the comment by the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould) about the setting up of special kitchen cabinets under a possible Labour Government. As the hon. Gentleman's hobbies are listed in Dod's as "eating, cooking and wine" I can see his interest in kitchen cabinets. It would be helpful to know who the Opposition would appoint to such kitchen cabinets. For example, would Derek Hatton be special adviser to the Department of the Environment and would Bruce Kent get a job with the Ministry of Defence?

Photo of Mr Merlyn Rees Mr Merlyn Rees , Leeds South and Morley

The Minister answered the question about special advisers. What is the difference between a special adviser and a political adviser? What part does the Civil Service Commission play in determining their salary levels? Who are these special advisers and which part of the documents are they allowed to see? Should not the House be given more details about them under any Government?

Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already answered that question, and the right hon. Gentleman will find it in Hansard last week. In that answer, my right hon. Friend lists the names of all 39 specialist advisers, all but five of whom are political advisers, with those five being special advisers—[Interruption.] The right hon. Gentleman should wait a minute. Those five special advisers offer specific technical advice on subjects such as economics on which they are expert.

As the right hon. Gentleman will know from his wide experience, over the years the Labour party has tended to bring many so-called special advisers into local government. I hope that it would not dream of doing so in Whitehall.