Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Jeremy Browne (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 19 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 November 2008. It was answered by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Departmental Manpower

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year since 1997-98; and at what cost in each year.
Answer

There are two special advisers currently employed in the Ministry of Defence, of which one is within pay band 2 and the other within pay band 3 as shown:

Pay bands for 2008-09 £
Scheme ceiling 140,560
Pay Band 4 87,651 to 105,285
Pay Band 3 65,529 to 101,737
Pay Band 2 51,443 to 68,242
Pay Band 1 39,756 to 53,321

Since 3 May 1997, no more than two special advisers have been in post at any one time.Currently, there are approximately 108 press officers employed across the Department (as recorded in the Chief Office of Information's White Book) of which 36 are within the central MOD media and communications unit or regional defence press officer network.Central records are not held on press officer costs in other areas of the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.The costs for the 36 press officers employed by the central organisation based on capitation rates is £2,191,638.No historical records are available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
483 c1543-5W; 239074
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Staff Ministry of Defence
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk