§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish details of the contractual relationships between the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Finsbury public relations firm. [HL3373]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe contract between Finsbury Ltd and the department is commercial in confidence.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Sir Richard Mottram, the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, has held any meetings with Finsbury Public Relations; and, if so, on what dates. [HL3374]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of the meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any work undertaken by Finsbury Public Relations has been relevant to government responsibilities; and, if so, whether they will publish the relevant contract detailing these responsibilities, indicating specifically where such work could not have been effectively carried out by officials in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [HL3375]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonFinsbury Ltd is employed by the department to work on specialized 63WA communications work connected with the Railtrack in administration project; expertise that is not available from within the department. The details of their contract remain commercial in confidence.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Finsbury Public Relations has ever offered advice to Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions Ministers or officials beyond their specific brief on the administration of Railtrack. [HL3376]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonFinsbury Ltd does not offer advice to the department, ministers or officials beyond its specific brief on the administration of Railtrack.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, at any time, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney has employed the Finsbury Public Relations firm at the request of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; and whether any such arrangements to employ Finsbury Public Relations comply with civil service guidelines. [HL3377]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonSSSB is the department's financial advisers and employed Finsbury Ltd to handle its financial PR from October—December 2001. The selection of the company was entirely its choice.
The department decided that it continued to need specific, expert advice on financial PR matters connected with the Railtrack in administration project as this expertise was not available elsewhere in the department. SSSB was asked to negotiate a price for continuing to use Finsbury Ltd's services on behalf of the department but it was decided that it would be preferable for the company to be employed direct by the department.
Since January 2002 therefore, Finsbury Ltd has been on contract to the department. The arrangements for its employment follow civil service guidelines.