§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister what has been the total annual cost to the taxpayer of the Central Policy Review Staff and its actions for each year since its inception.
§ The Prime MinisterFor current annual cost I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 27th November last. Information for past years on the annual cost of the CPRS within total expenditure for the Cabinet Office as a whole is not readily available, but the size of the CPRS has remained broadly constant since its inception.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister if he will set out the numbers, grades, salaries and skills, of the members of the Central Policy Review Staff.
§ The Prime MinisterOn numbers and grades I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 27th November last. Salary ranges for the grades—or equivalent—there shown are at the normal Civil Service rates. The skills of the CPRS are various and multi-disciplinary.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister how the members of the Central Policy Review Staff are recruited.
§ The Prime MinisterStaff are recruited, either on contract or by second-524W ment from within Government service, according to need and availability.
§ Mr. John Garrettasked the Prime Minister if he will list the qualifications and experience, in management and in efficiency, staffing and organisation studies of the Central Policy Review Staff members who are to carry out a study of the efficiency and manning of British embassies overseas.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not the practice to identify individual members of the CPRS with particular projects. My right hon. Friend and I are, however, satisfied that the multi-disciplinary team which will investigate all aspects of our overseas representation and will be led by Sir Kenneth Berrill personally has the required qualifications.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister which consultants, accountants and outside advisers have been used for which projects by the Central Policy Review Staff since its inception; and what has been the cost.
§ The Prime MinisterThe following consultants have done work for the CPRS since its inception:
International Management and Engineering Group—Report on potential benefits to British industry from offshore oil and gas developments (1972).
Inter-Bank Research Organisation—Report on the future of London as a financial centre (1973).
McKinsey and Co.—Work in connection with the CPRS report on the future of the British car industry (1975).
In addition a considerable number of individual experts have been used as consultants by the CPRS to give advice on a wide variety of issues. It would not be practicable to supply details. The total cost since the inception of the CPRS in 1970 has been £253,000.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister if it is the intention that all future reports of the Central Policy Review Staff will be published; and what are the criteria by which decisions will be taken on whether to publish it or not.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The advice of the Central Policy Review Staff, like other official advice to Ministers, is normally treated as confidential. While a number of reports by the Central Policy 525W Review Staff have been published under this Government, a decision by Ministers to publish a particular report can only be taken in the light of the individual circumstances.