Office of Science and Technology

HC Deb 16 December 1996 vol 287 cc427-8W

Mr. Ingram

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of commissioning the Coopers and Lybrand review of the dual support transfer for the Office of Science and Technology. [8889]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Excluding VAT, the Office of Science and Technology—OST—paid Coopers and Lybrand in total £81,862.16, comprising £76,650.00 consultant fees, £4,022.16 for expenses and £1,190 for 700 copies of the final report. VAT amounted to £14,325.88. The associated administrative costs to OST is making and managing this contract were covered routinely within the office's running costs budget.