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Special Advisers: Conditions of Employment

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 7 September 2026UIN 20641

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the updated Special Adviser model contract published on 29 July 2026, whether all existing special advisers who were re-appointed under the new Administration further to the change in the Prime Minister in July 2026 are subject to the probationary period in the model contract.

Answered by Cabinet Office

In line with the Model Contract for Special Advisers, when a special adviser’s appointing minister leaves office special advisers’ contracts are automatically terminated. The Model Contract sets out the conditions of probation.

A breakdown of how many special advisers are in post by department will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers next summer.

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