Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the number of outside consultants and economists employed to advise his Department on transport matters; and whether he will publish the names of those employed.
§ Dr. GilbertAt present the Department has contracts with 147 outside consultants and economists about various transport matters. In addition there are nearly 100 current research contracts with universities, colleges of technology and similar institutions. The consultants include noise, landscaping and soil experts, quantity surveyors and consulting engineers. The size of the concerns and the cost, scope and number of the contracts placed with them by the Department vary considerably. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the difficulties that the preparation of a comprehensive and meaningful list would involve.