§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what amounts have been paid out, and to whom, by way of fees for consultation about the setting up of the Courts Services Agency; what sums he plans to pay out in this respect in the future; and to whom.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Department has paid £15,500 in fees to Dent Lee Witte and KPMG Peat Marwick for work assisting with the setting up of the Court Service Agency. One contract is still continuing, with further costs of £3,000 expected. A further contract to design the launch documents is currently out to tender. There are no other plans to use consultants to assist with establishing the agency, but the Department will assess whether their assistance may be appropriate as work progresses.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his latest estimate of(a) the costs incurred so far and (b) the costs yet to be incurred in the setting up of the Courts Services Agency.
Mr. John. M. TaylorThe preparatory work started in July 1992 and has cost £362,000 up to June this year. Costs of £246,000 are expected to be incurred from June this year to the launch of the agency in April 1995.