§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with market-testing programmes in which his Department has been engaged since their inception. [21375]
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 1 May 1995]: Between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1995, the cost of employing external consultants to give support to the "Competing for Quality" programme of the Scottish Office has been £1.4 million.
191WThis total includes the cost of assisting clients in the development of outline specifications, developing general guidance, supporting the preparation of bids by some in-house teams and ensuring that skills were transferred to Scottish Office staff so that future programmes could largely be supported by in-house staff.