§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to seek further advice from Kleinwort Benson, KPMG, Price Waterhouse and others on the Post Office review in the 1993–94 financial year; and what provision has been made for payment for this advice in the current year's budget for his Department.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 15 April 1993]: My Department will continue to take advice from external consultants on the Post Office review as necessary. Payment for any such work in 1993–94 would be made from the total sum allocated by my Department for consultancy (£6,429,000) on sub-heading C3(2) of class IV, vote 1 (HC 495-IV). Final allocations have not yet been made within this overall figure.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the balance of payments in(a) post and (b) telecommunications services in the last five years, distinguishing between the balance of payments with other countries of the European Community and elsewhere.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 15 April 1993] Separate information for (a) post and (b) telecommunication services is not available. Information on overall United Kingdom overseas transactions in post and telecommunication services is published by the Central Statistical Office in "The Pink Book, United Kingdom Balance of Payments" which is available in the Library of the House.