The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
In accordance with Section 16 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act and the Ministerial Code the following information is the annual report about special advisers serving the Welsh Government.
Special advisers add a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support.
They are appointed by the First Minister to help Ministers on matters where the work of Government and the work of the Government Party overlap and where it would be inappropriate for permanent civil servants to become involved. They are an additional resource for the Minister providing assistance from a standpoint that is more politically committed and politically aware than would be available to a Minister from the permanent Civil Service.
Listed below are the names of the special advisers who have been in post from 1 April 2011 onwards.
The list includes special advisers whose employment ended during the year:
- Andrew Bold - 1/4/2011 (resigned to work on election campaign), 16/5/2011 - present
- Ian Butler* - 1/4/2011 – 6/5/2011
- Jonathan Davies* - 4/7/2011 - present
- Matt Greenough* - 27/6/2011 - present
- Sophie Howe* - 1/4/2011 – 6/5/2011,3/1/2012 – present
- Steve Jones - 1/4/2011 (resigned to work on election campaign), 16/5/2011 - present
- Jo Kiernan - 1/4/2011 – 6/5/2011, 9/5/2011 – present
- Anna Nicholl - 1/4/2011 – 6/5/2011
- Rhuanedd Richards - 1/4/2011 – resigned to work on election campaign
- Chris Roberts* - 1/4/2011 – resigned to work on election campaign, 23/5/2011 - present
- Steve Thomas - 1/4/2011 – 12/4/2011
*engaged part time
The contracts of Special Advisers are terminated when either the First Minister ceases to hold office as First Minister, or the end of the day after polling day at a general election to the National Assembly for Wales. Under existing contractual arrangements, Special Advisers are entitled to severance payments in such circumstances. Similarly, if a Special Adviser resigns upon the announcement of a general election to the National Assembly for Wales, there is a contractual obligation to make a severance payment. If a Special Adviser is subsequently re-appointed post-election, the individual is required to repay any part of the severance which overlaps with the period from which they are re-employed as a Special Adviser.
The paybill cost, including severance, for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 totalled £468,516.99, of which £67,121.80 was severance.
The special advisers pay structure is based on simple broad bands. Special advisers in the Welsh Government were engaged during the above period on either an employed or secondment basis.
Listed below are the names of the Special Advisers in post at 31 March 2012 and their pay bands, together with each pay band’s pay range for 2011-12:
- Jo Kiernan (Payband 2)
Responsible for: First Minister, Delivery Unit, Legislation, Inter-Governmental relations, Wales for Africa, Wales in the World, Freedom of Information and Broadcasting
- Andrew Bold (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Chris Roberts (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Public Service Delivery and Transport, and co-ordinating action on Poverty (cross portfolio)
- Sophie Howe (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Local Government and Communities, Housing and Regeneration, and Equalities
- Steve Jones (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Media, communications and Assembly business
- Matt Greenough (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Education, Skills and the Welsh Language, Heritage and Sport
- Jonathan Davies (Payband 1)
Responsible for: Health and Social Services
Special Adviser Pay Bands for 2011-12
The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2011-12 were as follows:
- Pay Band 1 £40,352 – £54,121
- Pay Band 2 £52,215 – £69,266
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.