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24 Jan 2008 : Column 2176W—continued
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers are employed in each salary band in his Office; [180473]
(2) how many appointments of (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in each salary band have been made to his Office in each month since 27 June 2007. [180472]
Gillian Merron: As of 1 April 2007, the number of full-time equivalent civil servants by salary band in the Cabinet Office is as follows:
| Band | Total |
Between 1 April and 30 December, the size of the Department has reduced from 1,479 to 1,340.
On numbers of appointments, the Department generally has a high level of turnover compared to other Government Departments, because there are significant numbers of staff on fixed term appointments, on loan from other Government Departments or on secondment from external organisations, bringing in people with relevant skills/expertise to work on current priorities. There were 476 appointments in 2006-07.
The number of full-time equivalent civil servants in each band, appointed to the Cabinet Office each month since 27 June 2007 is as follows:
| Start month | ||||||||
| Band | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
Since 2003, the Government have published details on special adviser names, numbers and costs in an annual written ministerial statement. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, 147-50WS.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his role is with regard to (a) the operation of the political office at 10 Downing street, (b) the development of Government policy, (c) responding to day-to-day events and (d) forward-planning of Government announcements; whether that role has changed in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [181232]
Edward Miliband: My ministerial responsibilities are set out in the List of Ministerial Responsibilities which is available in the Libraries of the House and on the Cabinet Office website at
Departmental Standards
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Cabinet Office has made of whether (a) the Prime Minister’s Office and (b) the Cabinet Office have met the Departmental Strategic Objective of ensuring the highest standards of propriety and integrity in public life. [181309]
Edward Miliband: The Government are committed to upholding the highest standards of propriety and integrity in public life as set out in the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and the seven principles of public life. Maintenance of these standards is scrutinised by Parliament including the Public Administration Select Committee and other bodies including the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Electronic Mail
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued to his Department's (a) staff and (b) special advisers on the use of non-government e-mail accounts for official purposes. [174812]
Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office has a protective security policy, in which the controls and procedures apply to all staff, including special advisers.
Government Departments: Correspondence
Mr. Horam: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines he has provided to Government Departments on responding to letters and e-mails from members of the public on (a) acknowledging receipt of the correspondence and (b) the time allowed for a substantive answer to be sent. [181137]
Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 1081W.
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street: Smith Institute
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 27 June 2007 (a) the Smith Institute and (b) SI Events Ltd have used facilities at No. 10 Downing street. [180252]
The Prime Minister: Information on official and charity receptions held at Downing street will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year.
Christmas
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office has spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in each of the last five years. [171428]
The Prime Minister: In 2006 my predecessor (the right hon. Tony Blair) sent approximately 1,700 official Christmas cards at a cost of £460. For previous years I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my predecessor on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 936W; 20 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1350-1W and 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 63W.
For parties and decorations I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) today.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff are employed by his Office. [181282]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) and the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 15 October 2007, Official Report, column 819W.
Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 1076W, on Departments: ministerial policy advisers, whether Mr Bob Shrum provides him with potential consultancy, speech-writing or related advice, in relation to his official duties. [181226]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 1076W.
Manpower: Prime Minister’s Office
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2007, Official Report, column 625W, on manpower: Prime Minister’s Office, how many staff hours were spent on average on speechwriting in his Office in each week of the last month. [179643]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 29 October 2007, Official Report, column 615W.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Binley: To ask the Prime Minister what the terms and conditions of Mr Stephen Carter’s employment as Chief of Strategy and principal adviser are; and what rules apply to the retention of interests in outside bodies by special advisers. [180560]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my Office on 7 January 2007, copies are available on the No. 10 website at:
A copy of this webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.
Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Ministers: Official Gifts
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister when the rules governing gifts received by Ministers and registered as part of the Donated Asset Reserve were last updated. [180122]
The Prime Minister: The arrangements for the handling of gifts are set out in chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code which was issued in July 2007.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister how much depreciation has taken place of items held in the Donated Asset Reserve over the last 12 months. [180313]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor (the right hon. Tony Blair) on 4 December 2006, Official Report, column 151W.
Official Visits
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has visited (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Liverpool and (d) London since his appointment. [180981]
The Prime Minister: A list of my UK visits will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year.
Pay
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Prime Minister what the Prime Minister’s salary was in each of the last 10 years. [181500]
The Prime Minister: This is a matter of public record and is available in the Libraries of the House.
Prime Minister: India
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he held during his recent visit to India on discrimination by caste and descent in that country. [181567]
The Prime Minister: During my visit, I announced a new UK three-year development programme of £825 million. This will support the health and education sectors, with a particular focus on bringing education to a greater proportion of Indians, regardless of caste. In addition, I took part in an event on women’s empowerment where I discussed among other issues the impact of caste and discrimination in Indian society.
Special Advisers
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Prime Minister what obligations there are on special advisers to (a) divest and (b) declare financial interests held prior to appointment; and if he will make a statement. [181517]
The Prime Minister: Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
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