Civil Service

The current norm is that most Cabinet Ministers, including myself, have two special advisers. I do not think that that is an excessive number, but we can probably debate that. Another important aspect of this debate is that special advisers are not a threat to the impartiality of the civil service—in fact, they help to protect its impartiality because they can do political things that it would not be right for civil servants to do. That is why the Cabinet Secretary said at the Public Administration Committee last week"““this point about good special advisers being good for the civil service is really important””." I say to the House, in all genuineness, that on special advisers and on other aspects of the Bill, we look forward to detailed scrutiny by this House, and even perhaps to some constructive suggestions.