Special Advisers

House of Lords written question – answered at on 25 July 2002.

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Photo of Baroness Serota Baroness Serota Labour

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the cost is of the pay bill for special advisers in 2001–02; what are the pay bands for 2002–03; and how many special advisers there are in each pay band, broken down by department.

Photo of Lord Macdonald of Tradeston Lord Macdonald of Tradeston Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Cabinet Office

The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2002–03 are as follows:

Scheme Maximum: £128,125

Pay Band 4: £76,876 to £92,250

Pay Band 3 and Premium: £57,401 to £89,175

Pay Band 2: £45,101 to £58,240

Pay Band 1: £34,851 to £45,760

Pay Band 0: Up to £34,850

At 22 July 2002, the number of special advisers in each pay band by department is as follows:

Department 0 1 2 3 4
No 10(1) 6 6 11 2
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister(2) 2 1
Chief Whip's Office 1 2
Culture, Media and Sport 1
Defence 1
Education and Skills 1 1
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1 1
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2
Health 2
Home Office(3) 4
International Development(4)
Leader of the House of Lords(5) 1 1
Lord Chancellor's Department 1
Northern Ireland Office 2
President of the Council 2
Scotland Office 1 1
Trade and Industry(6) 1 1 1
HM Treasury(7 8) 1 1 2 1
Transport(9) 1
Wales Office 1
Work and Pensions(10)
Total 13 26 21 4

The cost of special advisers in 2001–02 is £5.1m.

(1) Plus two special advisers who are paid beyond Pay Band 4 but still within the scheme.

(2) Provision for three full-time posts but currently only 2.5 special advisers employed.

(3) Includes one special adviser who is part-time.

(4) One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

(5) Includes one part-time special adviser who provides advice to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

(6) Plus one adviser who is part-time and unpaid.

(7) Includes the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury.

(8) Plus the five members of the Council of Economic Advisers who are employed on special adviser terms (one in Band 4, three in Band 3 and one in Band 1—one is part-time).

(9) Plus one special adviser who has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

(sup10) One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

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