§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [31040]
§ Mr. MacShaneOver the last four years 10 consultancy firms have been engaged to support private finance initiative projects. Total expenditure has been as follows:
£ 1998–99 986,645 1999–2000 1,192,086 2000–01 356,640 2001–02 81,740 Detailed information about the average cost of each consultant could be provided only at disproportionate cost.