§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to date and the expected future cost of his Department's market-testing programme; how many staff are engaged full-time in work relating to market testing; which firms of consultants have been used in connection with the market-testing programme; and how they were selected.
§ Mr. NorrisThe current approximate costs to date are some £540,000, including consultancies, since November 1991. The future costs will depend on the size and scope of the forward programme which is not yet finalised. The equivalent of eight full-time staff are assigned to the market-testing programme. The consultants used by the Department since November 1991 are:
- (a) Coopers and Lybrand Management Consultants.
- (b) Ernst and Young Management Consultants.
- (c) KPMG Management Consultants.
17 - (d) Capita Management Consultants.
- (e) Mindworks Management Consultants.
- (f) Shreeveport Consultants.
The Department's policy is to select consultants on the basis of competitive bids.