Stormont spends most on special advisers

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has the most advisers

The Northern Ireland Executive spends more on special advisers than any other UK devolved government, it has emerged.

A freedom of information request reported by the News Letter has revealed that in one financial year it spent almost £2m.

This figure was more than the Scottish and Welsh governments combined.

Special advisers, known as Spads, act as the link between a minister and their department and party, and to talk to other ministerial advisers.

The last financial year for which there are published figures is 2013/2014.

In Northern Ireland there were 21 special adviser posts at a cost of just under £2m. Three of them served only between three and six months of that year.

For the same period in Scotland there were 14 advisers, costing just over £1m.

In Wales, there were nine advisers, costing less than £500,000.

In 2013/2014, the pay bands and grades for special advisers varied across the UK, anything from £36,000 up to £91,000.

In Scotland, three of them were in the top pay band while at Stormont all 21 posts were.

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had the most advisers, with nine of the 21 posts.