A tandem hydraulic valve comprising first and second axially aligned valve spools, a valve guide slidably receiving said valve spools to control, in use, the connection between respective ports of the valve guide, said first and second spools being formed as separate components and being axially interconnected, to move in unison, by an axial connection component, and, the interface of said first and second spools being connected to a predefined, external, hydraulic fluid leakage path.