HC Deb 26 November 1992 vol 214 cc751-2W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all of the reports commissioned from external consultants since April 1992; how many reports from external consultants to his Department led to further consultancy work being commissioned, stating for each of these who were the original and subsequent consultants and briefly describing the subject matter of the consultancy work; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

The Department of National Heritage has commissioned the following reports from external consultants since April 1992:

  • Price Waterhouse—Investment analysis for DNH headquarters project.
  • TECTUS—Space planning report for DNH headquarters project.
  • Charles Douglas—Assessment of telephone installation options for new headquarters project.
  • Robin Johnson—Design proposals for housestyle plus design guide.
  • PE International—Scoping study on provision of central services for DNH. This led to a further consultancy for PE International giving expert assistance for implementation of recommendations in their first report.
  • GAH Group—Report on aspects of the proposed National Lottery. These consultants were subsequently engaged to make a presentation to the Secretary of State and senior officials on the subject.
  • Ernst & Young—Report on the scope for market testing in the British Library.
  • Library and Information Statistics Unit, Loughborough University—Provision of selected public and university library statistics to the Library and Information Services Council for their Annual Report.
    • 752
  • PA Consultants—Report on aspects of the British Library St. Pancras project.
  • Price Waterhouse—Report on financial systems and controls in place on British Library St. Pancras site.
  • Watts and Partners—Report on options for managing the maintenance and refurbishment of various historic state buildings and monuments in London.
  • Mr. Geoffrey Page—Report on an information technology strategy for the Royal Parks.
  • Mr. James Berry—Production of landscaping and ecological appraisals for the Royal Parks.
  • Mr. John Wilkinson—Development of a programme of free public entertainments in the Royal Parks, and research into sponsorship possibilities.
  • KPMG Management Consultants—Study for the Royal Parks Constabulary on the scope for use of information technology. This led to a design consultancy for KPMG Management Consultants for the management of the Royal Parks crime statistics.
  • Thesaurus—Statistical report on objects sold at auction in United Kingdom.
  • Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Newcastle University —To establish a method for calculating numbers of day visitors to destinations within the United Kingdom for inclusion in local authority standard spending assessments.
  • Mr. Francis Butlin—Report on care and conservation of works of art in the Government Art Collection.
  • Ms. Isabel Horowitz—Report on care and conservation of works of art on the Government Art Collection.
  • Mr. David Harding—Report on care and conservation of works in Government Art Collection.

The Historic Royal Palaces Agency has commissioned the following reports from external consultants since April 1992:

  • Communication by Design—Improved local signage for Kensington Palace.
  • Travers Morgan—Identification of plants for the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
  • Percy Flaxman—Restoration of Hampton Court maze.
  • Land Use Consultants—Ground maintenance costs of Hampton Court Gardens.
  • David Watson and Associates—Utilities tariff analysis and efficiency.
  • Protective Security Systems Limited—Security systems at Kensington Palace.
  • Grant Leisure Group—Catering facilities at the Tower of London.
  • TOR Systems—Ticketing at the Tower of London.
  • H. H. Angus and Associates (UK) Ltd.—Electrical supply requirements at the Tower of London. This led to a design consultancy which has now been placed with RMJM (London) Limited.
  • Alan Baxter and Associates—Car parking at Hampton Court Palace.
  • Alan Baxter and Associates—Brown road signs to Hampton Court Palace.
  • Fielden and Mawson—Real tennis court at Hampton Court Palace.
  • Royal Ordnance—Security at Tower of London.
  • Baxter, Williams and Smith—Suitability of different types of building contract.
  • Caroe and Partners—Stonework at Tower of London.