Question reference: S5W-08161
- Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 16 March 2017
-
Current status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 30 March 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the names of its special advisers in post; what their (a) responsibilities and (b) pay bands are; how many there are in each pay band, what the current total salary cost of employing them is, and whether it will provide an update on any changes made, including the dates of these, since the answer to question S5W-02983 by Derek Mackay on 23 September 2016.
Answer
Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers. There are currently 13 Special Advisers in post following the appointment of Stewart Maxwell on 9 January 2017.
The 13 Special Advisers and their specific responsibilities are as follows:
|
Name |
Role |
|
Liz Lloyd
|
Chief of Staff to the First Minister First Minister’s Strategic Programme in Government including Inter-governmental relations Co-ordination of the Special Adviser team Finance (jointly with Colin McAllister) |
|
Stuart Nicolson
|
Head of Communications Senior Political Spokesperson for the First Minister Strategic communications |
|
Colin McAllister
|
Head of Policy Programme for Government. First Minister’s Questions Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister. Education. Finance (jointly with Liz Lloyd) |
|
Ewan Crawford |
Senior Special Adviser Europe and Constitutional issues Government Strategy |
|
Ross Ingebrigtsen
|
Deputy Political Spokesperson for the First Minister Strategic communications planning |
|
Katy Bowman
|
Special Adviser Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Policy support to the Chief of Staff Support for the First Minister and the First Minister’s Private Office Outreach and stakeholder engagement |
|
Jeanette Campbell
|
Special Adviser Communities, Social Security, and Equalities |
|
Kate Higgins
|
Special Adviser Rural Economy & Connectivity Early Years, Higher & Further Education Support to the Head of Policy |
|
Davie Hutchison
|
Special Adviser Health & Sport and Broadcasting First Minister Questions |
|
John McFarlane
|
Special Adviser Justice and Transport Parliamentary Business and Parliamentary liaison |
|
Stewart Maxwell |
Special Adviser Business, the Economy, Skills and Fair Work Business and Economy outreach |
|
John MacInnes |
Special Adviser Political Research Support for First Minister’s Questions and parliamentary debates Support to Communications and Policy Special Advisers |
|
David Miller |
Special Adviser Energy, Environment, Climate Change & Land Reform
|
The Special Adviser Pay Bands and Ranges and the number of Special Advisers within each Pay Band currently in place are:
|
Pay Band |
Current Pay Range |
Number of Special Advisers |
|
1 |
£39,445 - £52,904 |
8 |
|
2 |
£51,041 - £67,709 |
1 |
|
3 |
£65,017 - £83,963 |
4 |
|
3 (premium) |
£83,549 - £100,942 |
0 |
|
4 |
£86,965 - £104,462 |
0 |
The estimated total cost of the current team of 13 Special Advisers employed for a full 12 month period is £962,645. This includes all salary costs, ERNIC and employer pension contributions and the estimate can be broken down as follows:
ESTIMATED 12 MONTH COST OF CURRENT SPECIAL ADVISER TEAM
|
Number of Special Advisers |
Salary Costs |
*ERNIC |
*Employer pension contributions |
Total Cost |
|
13 |
£720,005 |
£84,004 |
£158,636 |
£962,645 |
* The level of the employer ERNIC and pension contributions is not a matter for the Scottish Government.