Number and Cost of Special Advisers
There is no legal limit on the number of special advisers, although the current total is less than it was under Tony Blair. The government had previously accepted calls, made in 2000 by the Neill Committee on Standards in Public Life, for such a legal cap. By 2002, however, the government had altered its position, saying in response to the Wicks Committee report on standards in public life that "the Government does not believe that the issue of special advisers can be considered as a numerical issue. The issue is about being transparent about accountability, roles and responsibilities and numbers". At the last full reporting the government had 68 such personnel in its employment, 18 of whom worked in 10 Downing Street. Special advisers may be paid up to £142,668. Before his resignation Andy Coulson was the highest paid special adviser with a salary of £140,000. The total cost of special advisers in 2006-07 was £5.9 million.
Read more about this topic: Special Advisers (UK Government)
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