§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total fees paid out by his Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for the current year.
§ Mr. MellorThe estimated expenditure from 1984–85 onwards on fees and expenses for management consultants on health matters is as follows:
Year £ million 1984–85 0.613 1985–86 0.479 1986–87 2.103 1987–88 1.316 1988–89 1.347 The figures are approximate since expenditure up to and including the 1988–89 financial year is from a joint Health and Social Security budget. In some cases expenditure has been apportioned where consultants have been engaged on both health and social security matters. The figures include social services consultancy and some computer consultancy where these cannot be separately identified.
The information for years prior to 1984–85 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.