§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 7 June 1993]: The Employment Department group's market-testing programme is being developed within existing resources.
It is not possible at this stage to given an estimate of likely savings from the Department's market testing programme. Annual returns across Whitehall indicate, however, that in previous years savings arising from market testing have typically been around 25 per cent. of the original cost even when the activity has remained in-house.
Fifty-one staff are currently employed full time across the group to deliver a programme covering over 1,900 staff and with a value of £72 million.
The Department has used the following consultants to advise on its market testing programme and all were selected as a result of a competitive tender exercise:
- Coopers and Lybrand
- Ernst and Young
- John Pearce
- KPMG
- PA Consulting
- Price Waterhouse