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Written Parliamentary Questions: 8th February 2006

Special Advisors (DoH)

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the special advisers in post in her Department, broken down by pay band; and what the total budgeted cost to her Department of special advisers is for 2005–06. (John Hemming)
A:Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 158–62WS.

Information on the numbers of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library.

Information relating to costs for 2005–06 will be published after the end of the current financial year. (Jane Kennedy, Minister of State (Quality and Patient Safety), Department of Health)

Passport Services

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport photographs of under-5 year olds were rejected in December 2005. (John Hemming)
A:For the five week period commencing 28 November 2005, 2,918 photographs for children aged five and under were rejected. This equates to around 7 per cent. of all applications from children aged under six. (Andy Burnham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office)

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