HC Deb 28 January 1994 vol 236 c413W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which occasions since 1979 her Department has employed the services of external consultants; and if she will give details of the purposes for which they were employed and the cost of employing them.

Mr. Jack

The annual costs of external consultants employed by the Department—excluding agencies—since 1984–85 are set out. The precise number of contracts, details of the purposes for which they were employed and data for earlier years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Financial year Expenditure (£)
1984–85 127,110
1985–86 1174,724
1986–87 1135,279
1987–88 144,015
1988–89 1,174,114
1989–90 2,972,150
1990–91 4,495,793
1991–92 5,374,284
1992–93 7,010,814
1 Excludes computer consultants.