Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conditions of Employment

(asked on 30th September 2019) - View Source

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the Cabinet Office's Human Resources policies and procedures relating to the employment of special advisors.


Answered by
Earl of Courtown Portrait
Earl of Courtown
Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This question was answered on 8th October 2019

A revised model contract for special advisers was published on 19 September. The changes made reflect improvements to align the policies that apply to special advisers including on parental leave rights, clarification of the provisions relating to severance payments, and an explanation of the disciplinary procedure which reflects the longstanding role of the Prime Minister in the appointment of all special advisers.

The last update to the Special Adviser’s Code of Conduct was in December 2016. This document is kept under regular review. In December of last year, the Minister for the Constitution announced work to review how special advisers’ terms can be made clearer and consistent (19 December 2018 Vol. 651, [HCWS1216]). This work is ongoing.

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