Cabinet Office minister Lord Macdonald has apologised for giving an "unclear" answer on the number of special advisers employed by the government.

Responding a question in the Lords last week, Macdonald said that the current figure of 81 advisers was compared to 79 under "the last administration".

The minister apologised for being "unclear" about whether his answer referred to the final year of the last parliament or the former Tory government.

When the Conservatives left office there were 38 special advisers.