HC Deb 08 February 1991 vol 185 cc283-4W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley of 24 January,Official Report, column 378, what experience Mr. E. R. I. Allan OBE has on international exhibitions; who else was considered when his appointment as consultant was made; and what other organisations were considered when the British Atlantic Committee and Peace Through NATO were appointed to advise him on the presentation of defence and disarmament issues.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Mr. Allan had worked for the Central Office of Information for a number of years as director of the exhibitions division and later a group director before his appointment as a consultant in 1987. Mr. Allan's role as a consultant involves attending the international exhibitions bureau as a British delegate. Since Mr. Allan was, and still is, a vice-president of that organisation he was uniquely qualified for this role. No one else was therefore considered.

The British Atlantic Committee and Peace Through NATO offer informal and unpaid advice on the presentation of defence and disarmament issues. They are not appointed, nor have the Government considered appointing any consultants in this field. A wide range of non-governmental organisations, including the BAC and PTN, are invited to periodic meetings in the FCO to discuss current arms control and disarmament issues.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 378, what other organisations were considered when Hariri Page was commissioned to advise on methods of evaluating information work overseas when Moon Communications were appointed consultants on the management of FCO publications; and what other organisations were considered when Shandwick plc and Young and Rubicam were appointed to advise on public and media response to the Gulf crisis.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Richard Moon and Associates (later Moon Communications) were appointed consultants on the management of FCO publications after a competitive tender. This consultancy also identified the need for a further study on information work overseas. As Harari (later Harari Page) had been engaged by Moon Associates to assist in the publications consultancy it was the natural choice for the further study on information work overseas.

Shandwick PLC and Young and Rubicam's advice has been informal and unpaid; they were not therefore formally appointed and the question of competitive tendering did not arise.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 378, what other outside organisations are advising him on any aspect of public reaction to or presentation of the Gulf crisis; and whether it is his policy to employ competitive tendering when making appointments of consultants to advise him on public relations and allied matters.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

No other outside organisations are advising the Government on public reaction to or presentation of the Gulf crisis. It is the FCO's policy to employ competitive tendering when making appointments of consultants except where there are strong reasons for single tender action.