Spin doctors cost Government £5.4m
The pay bill for the Government's army of spin doctors and ministerial special advisers ran to £5.4 million last year, according to newly-released official figures.
The Prime Minister disclosed in a Commons written answer that there are currently 72 special advisers employed across Whitehall.
Some - although not all - are political appointees working as spin doctors for ministers.
No 10 has the greatest number with 26, followed by the Treasury and the Home Office with four apiece.
In addition, the five members of the Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers are also employed on special adviser terms.
The No 10 team included two - presumed to be communications chief Alastair Campbell and chief of staff Jonathan Powell - in the maximum pay bracket of £94,327 to £131,008.
Another four - two in Downing Street and one each in the Treasury and the Department for Constitutional Affairs - were in the next highest pay band of £78,606 to £94,326.
The minimum annual salary for any of the special advisers is £35,635 - with none falling into the lowest pay band of £35,634 or less.
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