§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many of the special advisers appointed to assist with the implementation of Cmnd. 9063 and the abolition of the metropolitan county councils have experience of working in a metropolitan county council and when was this experience gained.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environ-ment (Lord Bellwin)The previous employment of all four advisers was given in the reply of 28th February to the honourable Member for Woolwich (CommonsHansard, col. 146–7). I am satisfied that the experience of these advisers in local government both in London and the metropolitan areas is sufficiently relevant and recent to qualify them for their present role.
582WA
§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Pursuant to the answer by the Secretary of State for the Environment to the honourable Member for Woolwich on 28th February (Commons Hansard, col. 146), whether they will say what budget provision has been made in the current financial year for payments to the four former local government officers who are advising on technical aspects of Cmnd. 9063 and whether they will estimate the total costs for 1985–86.
§ Lord Bellwin£3,000 has been provided to cover fees and expenses in 1983–84. A further £3,000 has been budgeted for 1984–85. No estimate of cost has been made beyond 1984–85.