§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants. for each year since 1987, in 1994 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in.
§ Mr. NorrisIn each of the financial years from 1990–91 to 1993–94 the expenditure on external consultants, at 1993–94 prices, was as follows:
Year Expenditure £ million 1990–91 185 1991–92 196 1992–93 229 1993–94 198 Figures from 1987–88–1989–90 are not available except at disproportionate costs.
It is not possible to quantify the annual cost savings resulting from this expenditure, the vast majority of which was for specific deliverables such as road schemes. Most of the expenditure was incurred on highways-related work.