HC Deb 23 March 1994 vol 240 cc318-9W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many contracts her Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the past five years.

Mr. Jack

As far as the annual cost of consultants is concerned I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10 February 1994 to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher),Official Report, columns 429–30.

There is no central record of the numbers of contracts prior to 1990–91. For the remaining years the approximate numbers are as follows:

Financial year Approximate number of contracts
1990–91 34
1991–92 71
1992–93 111