§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost in each of the years since 1979 until the latest date for which figures are available including the estimated figure for 1982–83, of consultants' fees for each of the health boards and the Common Services Agency; and what proportion of contracts were awarded after competitive tender.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe costs of building consultants' fees are set out in the following table. Estimated costs for 1982–83 are not available centrally. No building contracts were awarded after competitive tender. It is the practice of health boards and the Common Services Agency to award these contracts after considering consultants' competence, past performance and experience, total workload and capacity to undertake new work.