Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 21 July (HLWS867), whether the new Business Appointment Rules administered by the Civil Service Commission will apply to all special advisers, including those below Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2, or only to those previously covered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

The Special Adviser Code of Conduct sets out that Special Advisers are subject to the Business Appointment Rules for civil servants. Special advisers that currently submit applications to ACOBA will, following the transfer of functions, submit applications to the Civil Service Commission. All other Special Advisers will follow their usual process as set out in the Business Appointment Rules guidance.