§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing(a) the names and addresses of those contracted to provide one-stop access to information on behalf of his Department under the taking stock exercise, (b) the estimated annual amount to each including expenses, (c) how many inquiries have been made up to and including 1 June at each office and (d) the pro rata cost of each inquiry; and if he will make a statement on what has been achieved by this project.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 24 June 1994]: Of the 25 public information points established since September 1993, 20 are in departmental offices around Scotland, three are in citizens advice bureaux in Dumbarton, Airdrie and Kirkcaldy, and two are in the offices of solicitors in Perth and Kirkcudbright—at June 1994. The total cost of establishing all 25 information points is approximately £27,000 covering racking, shelving, the provision of a telephone helpline, and printed material. No payments have been made to the firms in whose offices information points have been established. A record of the number of inquirers calling at the information points is not kept, and consequently it is not possible to calculate a cost per inquiry. Information points make an important contribution to the accessibility of the Scottish Office and allow members of the public to inquire, complain or make suggestions about the Department's services and policies.