asked the Minister for the Public Service the name, rank, salary, allowances and terms and conditions of employment of advisers and assistants, other than civil servants, at present employed by him.

2.

asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of personal contract assistants employed by him; the cost of each and the overall cost to the taxpayer.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

I employed one personal assistant on contract. He is Mr. Louis Monks and his salary is equal to the maximum of the scale applying to the higher executive officer in the Civil Service, currently £13,569. He is also in receipt of a non-pensionable allowance of £1,500 a year in respect of extra expenses arising from his secondment. Mr. Monks's appointment is a full-time temporary one which will end not later than the date on which the Government cease to hold office.