§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total cost of the Central Office of Information in 1987–88; and what it was in 1978–79 and 1982–83.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 14 January 1988]: The estimated total running costs of the COI in 1987–88 and comparable actual costs for 1978–79 and 1982–83 are as follows:
£ million Year Cash prices Constant 1987–88 prices 1978–79 10.7 21.5 1982–83 17.6 22.0 1987–88 (estimated) 19.0 19.0 At constant 1987–88 prices the total expenditure for the COI in 1978–79 was £71.4 million, in 1982–83 was £60.5 million, and in 1987–88 is estimated to be £141 million.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of Central Office of Information work put out to private consultants and agencies in 1987–88; arid what it was in 1978–79 and 1982–83.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 14 January 1988]: The COI does not hold records of expenditure with consultancies and agencies in the form requested. In 1987–88 the department estimates that it will spend £104.5 miilion on goods and services with the private sector as a whole. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.