Mr. Robert HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in theOfficial Report, in each case, which of Orkney health board, Shetland health board, Western Isles health board, Highlands health board, Tayside health board, Fife health board, Forth Valley health board, Lothian health board, Borders health board, Dumfries and Galloway health board, Ayrshire and Arran health board, Lanarkshire health board, Greater Glasgow health board, and Argyll and Clyde health board has employed outside financial consultants in preparing business plans for direct management and/or NHS trust status; the name of the consultants; and the cost to each health board.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe following health boards have employed external consultants to help prepare business plans:
Health board Consultants Cost to health board (£) Forth Valley Pannell, Kerr, Forster 11,500 Greater Glasgow Pannell, Kerr, Forster 13,000 Lanarkshire Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte 2,000 Lothian Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte 2,000 Some work has also been carried out by Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte on behalf of Ayrshire and Arran health board, but directly funded by my Department, as part of 88W a study on the role of health boards and the purchaser-provider relationship. The cost of this work on business plans, a small part of the overall project, is not separately identifiable.