Professional Consultants (Reports)

HC Deb 14 December 1978 vol 960 cc355-8W

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the subjects on which professional consultants' reports were commissioned by his Department and the total cost to his Department of such reports in each of the years 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and so far in 1978.

Mr. Kaufman

Following is a list of reports commissioned by my Department since 1974 from professional management consultants. The list excludes any reports commissioned in connection with research and development contracts.

SUBJECT

1974

Study of Industrial Estates Corporations' factory building methods and costs

Design of computerised financial information system (commissioned by Department of Trade and Industry)

Assesment of the possible use of the factory and labour force of Kirkby enterprise

Study of the implications of the three-day week on industry

A feasibility study into the future survival and production of a plastic fabric manufacturing company

Study of the world use of space systems Study of the Small Firms Information Service

Study of marketing techniques at Warren Spring laboratory

Study of materials handling costings in two sectors of industry

Preliminary report on prospects for investment in United Kingdom by Danish industry

Total cost

£156,000

1975

Prospects of a United Kingdom typewriter manufacturing company

Study of the world motor cycle industry

Study of the feasibility of remote meter reading systems

Market survey of anti-pollution catalysts Study of R & D Opportunities in industrial Waste Disposal

Study of the market for Hydraulic Motors

Study of market for machine mounted hammers

Study of United Kingdom Industry's need for numerical analysis techniques

Study of the British footwear manufacturing industry

Supply of edited technological case studies

Listing of Canadian companies with United Kingdom investment potential

Total cost

£196,750

1976

Study of comparative maintenance costs in sectors of industry

Commercial prospects and profitability of Greenwell Drydocks Ltd.

Study of market for dust pressing equipment in ceramic tableware manufacture

Study of computer pattern grading in garment and footwear manufacturing

Market study of engine testing equipment

Studies of footwear manufacturing industry's costs, productivity, design and materials supply

Total cost

£114,095

1977

Study of process engineering industry

Study of marine instrument industry

Study of market for data buoys

Study of marine engineering equipment industry

Study of United Kingdom textile dyeing and and printing machinery industry

Evaluation of waste paper stock processing machinery

Study of need for satellite system in pollution monitoring

Study of job responsibilities in materials handling in selected industries

Study of selected sectors of electronic components industry

Advice on hydraulic power systems

Study of need for remote sensing aircraft facility

Study of possible commercial exploitation of certain tidal research services

Study of certain aspects of energy conservation

Study of feasibility of computer controlled cutting bureaux in clothing industry

Study of possible R and D investment in ships' inert gas systems

Study of small business management training needs

Study of development of computer aided draughting

Study of possible commercial and industrial revitalisation of Port of Liverpool (Inner Merseyside) area

Study of application of terotechnology in local authorities' activities

Total cost

£305,770

1978

Study of markets for ships' disposable equipment

Study of potential market for a gear grinding machine tool

Study of the food processing equipment manufacturing industry

To write a book on materials handling for managers in industry

Feasibility study of proposed merchandise mart at Surrey Docks

Study of computerised belt weighing

Study of computer distributed data base technology

To advise on development of industrial research by industrial research establishments

Study of World market opportunities for the British and French computer peripherals industries

Study of energy consumption in use etc of beverage containers

Study of costs of beverage distribution and development of a model for cost comparison

Study of opportunities for British industry in development and marketing of Marine Pollution Sensors

Advice on future development of UK tin mine

Study of industrial benefits from scientific space research

Technical economic study on an industrial reclamation process

Reports on United States and European investment possibilities in United Kingdom

Study of the export market prospects for wind turbine generators

Study of the cost of waste paper collection, supply & use

Total cost

£326,300