The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of 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 2012 onwards.
The list includes special advisers whose employment ended during the year.
Special Adviser/ Dates employed
- Andrew Bold: 1/4/2012 - present
- Jonathan Davies*: 1/4/2012 - present
- Matt Greenough*: 1/4/2012 - present
- Sophie Howe*: 1/4/2012 - 8.3.13
- Steve Jones: 1/4/2012 - present
- Jo Kiernan: 1/4/2012 - present
- Ruth Mullineux**: 20/5/2013 - present
- Chris Roberts***: 1/4/2012 - present
* engaged part time
** engaged on an 18 month secondment and retains the employer’s terms and conditions of employment
*** engaged part time prior to 18.2.13
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 for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 totalled £438,840.49. No severance payments were made.
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 2013 and their pay bands, together with each pay band’s pay range for 2012-13.
Special Adviser in Post/ Responsible For/ Payband
- Jo Kiernan/ First Minister, Delivery Unit, Legislation, Inter-Governmental relations, Wales in the World, and Freedom of Information (Payband 2)
- Andrew Bold/ Economy, Science and Transport and Technology (Payband 1)
- Chris Roberts/ Communities, Tackling Poverty and Children, Public Policy Institute, Public Service Commission and Active Travel Bill (Payband 1)
- Steve Jones/Media, Communications and Assembly Business (Payband 1)
- Matt Greenough/ Education, Skills and the Welsh Language, Culture and Sport (Payband 1)
- Jonathan Davies/ Health (Payband 1)
Special Adviser Pay Bands for 2012-13
The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2012-13 were as follows:
Pay Band 1: £40,352 – £54,121
Pay Band 2: £52,215 – £69,266