§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hired consultants have been employed by(a) central and (b) local government and by the public sector excluding local government in Wales to advise on the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering to (i) professional and specialist services, (ii) executive and clerical operations, (iii) office services and (iv) estate and construction services since the publication of the "Competing for Quality" White Paper; and what was the total cost of hiring consultants according to (1) the type of work to be tendered and (2) the organisation conducting or partaking in the tendering process.
§ Mr. David HuntThe information is not available in the form requested. Three firms of consultants have been employed by the Welsh Office to advise on the Department's own current market testing programme. The cost to date of employing these consultants is £25,000. Information on the employment of consultants by other parts of the public sector is not collected centrally.