Special Advisers

Lord Sheldon Excerpts

Monday 7th June 2010 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Sheldon]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many special advisers have been selected who have been approved by the Prime Minister.

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, a list of special adviser appointments will be published shortly and will be available in the Library of the House. In accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, all special adviser appointments are approved by the Prime Minister.

[Lord Sheldon]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that response. Many parliamentary advisers who have been employed have had none of the background of civil servants, and in some cases the Government created special advisers whose role was superior to those in the Civil Service. Has this practice now come to an end?

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, I very much regret that I was not in a position to give the noble Lord a clearer answer in my first response because he put his Question down slightly before the Government were ready to answer it. However, we will do so very shortly. I can confirm that, under this Government, the hideous regime of special advisers telling permanent civil servants what to do will come to an end.