Pay rises push salary bill for Government's spin doctors over £5m

The bill for special advisers employed by the Government has risen 16 per cent to £5.1m in the past year, Tony Blair disclosed last night.

In the 2000-01 financial year, the politically appointed officials, who act as spin doctors or policy advisers to ministers, cost £4.4m in salaries and pension contributions. The increase appears to be due to a gradual rise in the advisers' pay rather than an increase in the number being recruited. There are 75 currently employed, down from 81 last year.

The top pay band for the advisers is between £76,876 and £92,250 a year. But two officials earn up to £128,125. They are understood to be Alastair Campbell, the Downing Street director of communications and strategy, and Jonathan Powell, the Number 10 chief of staff, who have special powers to give orders to civil servants.

Downing Street refused to reveal the amounts paid to Mr Campbell and Mr Powell.

In a Commons written reply, the Prime Minister said 27 advisers were based at Number 10 – a threefold increase since John Major's administration. This reflects Mr Blair's desire to build up a "strong centre" for his Government. Thirteen earn between £34,851 and £45,760; 26 are paid between £45,101 and £58,240; 21 receive between £57,401 and £89,175 and four between £76,876 and £92,250. The salaries of individuals have not been disclosed.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said the average salary was £58,000. The £5.1m bill should be kept in perspective because it was just 0.02 per cent of the government wages bill of £26bn.

He added: "Pay bands are benchmarked against comparable jobs in the private sector and civil service."

* The cost of overseas trips by Mr Blair and his cabinet ministers rose by 19 per cent from £4.7m in 2000-01 to £5.6m in the last financial year, the Prime Minister disclosed in another Commons reply. Officials said there were more visits because of the "war on terrorism" after the attacks on the US on 11 September.