§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the names of the individuals undertaking the review of city challenge;
(2) if the review of city challenge was put out to tender;
(3) for what reasons consultants have been asked to review city challenge;
(4) which consultancy firm is undertaking the review of city challenge;
(5) what is the cost of the review of city challenge.
§ Mr. BaldryConsultants have been asked to undertake an interim evaluation of city challenge as part of the usual monitoring and assessment of Government programmes.
Six companies were invited to tender for the contract. All six responded. The European Institute of Urban Affairs, Liverpool—John Moores—university, led by Professor Michael Parkinson, was awarded the contract. For commercial reasons, the Department does not disclose the cost of individual contracts.
The Department has also carried out an internal management review of city challenge procedures. The review made a number of recommendations to streamline procedures and further reduce bureaucracy. City challenge chief executives were represented on the review group. Many of the recommendations have already been implemented and much of what it was considering has already been overtaken by developments on the single regeneration budget and integrated regional offices.