HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 cc112-3W
Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The total amount spent on management and computer consultancies in 1988 was £195,280. Details of those consultancies awarded in that year are as follows:

Firm Subject of assignment
BIS Ltd. To assist with the performance of the Department's mainframe computer.
HMSO To review the layout of the Department's reprographic unit.
Ernst and Whinney Ltd. To advise on the implementation of the Department's computerised financial systems.
Frank Griffiths Associates Review of purchasing
Touche Ross Review of the NHS directorate

Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount spent by the Welsh Development Agency in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Welsh Development Agency in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Welsh Development Agency has spent £99,000 on the following consultancy contracts:

Company Assignment
Grant Thornton Evaluation and testing of new computer systems
Ernst Whinney Documentation for users of new computer systems and advice on implementing new systems
P. Sullivan Development of integrated data bases from existing computer systems
Touche Ross Corporate planning advice
Numbers Research Ltd. Monitoring effectiveness of agency marketing campaign outside of Wales
Henry Zarb of Holder &Co.
Beaufort Research Ltd. Monitoring effectiveness of agency marketing campaign within Wales
Taylor Nelson Research Monitoring effectiveness of agency food initiative marketing campaign

1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
(a) Welsh Office direct funding of voluntary organisations 231,043 413,938 601,796 465,335 260,110 140,231
(b) Total Welsh Office payment under the mental handicap strategy 0.75 million 2.41 million 4.02 million 6.88 million 10.06 million 113.80 million
Proportion of (a) to (b) 28.4 per cent. 17.2 per cent. 15.0 per cent. 6.8 per cent. 2.6 per cent. 1.0 per cent.
1 Provisional.

The declining proportion of direct central funding reflects the development of effective county planning, which provides the basis for the social services and health authorities to support directly relevant voluntary sector activity.