§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on which occasions since it was established his Department has employed the services of external consultants; and if he will give details of the purposes for which they were employed and the cost of employing them.
§ Mr. SproatSince April 1992, my Department and its two agencies have let contracts to external consultants valued at approximately £6 million. Consultants have been used for advice, information and as a management resource in the following areas: to assist in the setting up of the Department, including advice on financial and personnel management, and project management for the new headquarters; to review the Arts Council and to examine local authority management of arts facilities; to undertake preparatory work for the national lottery; to study the activities of library authorities; to review the British library St. Pancras project; to advise on the BBC and the television licence fee; to undertake reviews relating to the British film industry; to review the effectiveness of press self-regulation; to report on sports sponsorship activities; to look at the economic effects of listing buildings of historic interest; to advise on royal estate management responsibilities; to inquire into fire safety at royal palaces; to provide statistical data on tourism; various tasks on behalf of the Historic Royal Palaces agency; and various tasks on behalf of the Royal Parks agency.