Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers in each department are on (a) four month probationary contracts, (b) six month fixed term contracts and (c) full contracts with no probationary period.

All special advisers are subject to the Model Contract for Special Advisers, which is published online at gov.uk. It stipulates that the first four months of their appointment will be a probationary period.

There are no special advisers on six month fixed term appointments, or contracts without a probationary period.