HC Deb 06 February 2002 vol 379 c940W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement. [31037]

Mr. Leslie

The information on the Cabinet Office's use of Private Finance Initiative consultants from 1 April 2000 is as follows. Information prior to that date can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

£
2000–01 2001–021
Total expenditure 269,123 255,919
Number of full time equivalent consultants3 30.38 4
Number of billed consultancy days 82 57.5
Number of consultancy firms used 1 1
1 To date
2 Excludes VAT
3Calculated on the basis of 215 working days in the year.
4Represents the average cost over the two year period
5Not available

Note:

The average cost per year for each of the two individual consultants used is £4,800, £57,721 excluding VAT4