Top adviser to Downing Street paid £140,000

The figure was released by Prime Minister David Cameron in a list of the salaries of all the special advisers in Government and their pay bands.

It shows that three of Mr Cameron's senior aides earn six-figure salaries, including Mr Coulson, Edward Llewellyn and Kate Fall.

MPs have been pressing for Mr Cameron to release details of the salaries of senior Downing Street aides and special advisers to ministers.

There had been speculation that Mr Coulson, who was formerly the Conservative Party's communications director, was being paid as much as 250,000 in his previous role. Prime Minister David Cameron's salary is 142,500.

Mr Llewellyn, who is Mr Cameron's chief of staff, earns 125,000 and Ms Fall, his deputy, earns 100,000.

Other senior advisers include Gabby Bertin, Mr Cameron's Press secretary who earns 80,000, and adviser Steve Hilton, paid 90,000.

The list of 61 aides, released in a written statement to Parliament by Mr Cameron, show that 18 special advisers are appointed under Mr Cameron and there are four special advisers working under Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

They include Lena Pietsch, who was Mr Clegg's press secretary while he was in opposition, who earns 80,000.

The list has been released as part of the new Government's "transparency agenda" listing the exact salaries of all those earning above 58,200.

The code of conduct for special advisers has also been tightened.

As part of the move to increase openness, structure charts for the Cabinet Office and Number 10 have also been put online.

Officials say it is the first time that full details about who works in the Prime Minister's Office have been published.