HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc289-90W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of(a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the Office of the Rail Regulator, in each year since 1992. [93227]

Mr. Jamieson

The table shows expenditure by the Office of the Rail Regulator for the year 2001–02 and since 1 April 2002. Figures for the period before 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Office of the Rail Regulator.

£
2001–02 Since 1 April 2002
(a) Technical and financial contracts 383,000 226,000
(b) Technical consultants, call off 351,000 458,000
(c) Financial consultants, call off 378,000 695,000

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of(a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the (i) Health and Safety Commission and (ii) Health and Safety Executive relating to railway matters in each year since 1992. [93230]

Mr. Jamieson

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) does not commission its own work since the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as set up under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, has executive responsibility for commissioning appropriate work on HSC's behalf.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not let financial contracts and therefore has no information in respect of financial contracts or financial consultants.

The total value of work commissioned by HSE (including HMRI) for technical contracts relating to railway matters in each year since 1992 is as follows:

£000
External research External support via call-off contract arrangements
1992–93 9.3 60.9
1993–94 90.5 14.9
1994–95 143 50
1995–96 77.1 244
1996–97 214.6 55.4
1997–98 526.5 48.1
1998–99 263.3 61.1
1999–2000 878.9 24.9
2000–01 195.1 798.3
2001–02 1248 264.5
2002–032 314 421.5
1 These figures include rail-related research commissioned by HSE's Safety Policy Directorate as well as HSE's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI).
2 Figures cover period to 2 February 2003.