§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what instructions or codes of practice he laid down in respect of the appointment of consultants by the London Docklands development corporation, and what action he proposes to take consequently on the report of auditors to the corporation, Robson Rhodes Corporation, on future procedure for appointing consultants adopted by the London Docklands development corporation;
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from Messrs. Robson Rhodes to the London Docklands development corporation concerning its annual accounts together with any reply or statements it made in response.
§ Mr. TrippierThe corporation is required by the terms of its grant memorandum to award consultancy contracts on a competitive basis.
The corporation has not yet completed its internal consideration of the management letter. It will do so at the next meeting of its audit committee. My Department will then consider the letter and the adequacy of the LDDC's response.
I will consider what statement should be made for the Official Report.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of consultants appointed by the London Docklands development corporation within its expenditure on 592W consultancies of £7.9 million in the last financial year, together with the nature of the contract, and indicating those cases where the auditors have found no evidence of formal competition.
§ Mr. TrippierYes. I shall do so as soon as the information has been brought together.