HL Deb 15 January 1996 vol 568 cc38-41WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish a full list of consultancy contracts entered into by the Royal Parks Agency since it was set up, their terms of reference, the funds committed in each case, the names of the consultants in question and their expertise and the action taken by the Royal Parks Agency in each case.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)

Responsibility for the subject of this Question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Kennet from the head of policy, Royal Parks Agency, Ms Viviane Robertson, dated 15/1/96.

In the absence of the Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch, I have been asked by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage to reply to your parliamentary Question requesting details of consultancy contracts entered into by the Royal Parks Agency since it was set up in April 1993.

The attached list sets out all consultancy contracts entered into by the agency since April 1993. It gives terms of reference, names of consultants, funds committed in each case and action taken by the agency in each case.

Consultancies entered into by the Royal Parks Agency since April 1993
Consultant's Name (Expertise) and Terms of Reference Amount Committed Period of Contract Action by RPA
10. Leo Pemberton (Horticulturist) Assessment and advice on apprentice gardeners £7,200 3 years On-going
11. Jim Berry (Horticulturist) Produce text fora new illustrated tree handbook £1,500 1 year Implemented
12. John Wilkinson (Arts and Entertainment) To draw up annual costed Summer Entertainments Programme and obtain sponsorships £11,125 1 year Implemented for 1994 and 1995. 1996 programme in progress
£16,000 1 year
£28,160 1 year
13. Halcrow Fox (Road Traffic) Traffic Feasibility Study—The Mall; Review of strategic traffic issues and junction design £15,000
14. Halcrow Fox (Road Traffic) Extension 1 £2,500 3 months Modified Buckingham Palace pedestrianisation scheme completed
15. Halcrow Fox (Road Traffic) Extension 2 £3,500
16. Moon Comms Ltd (Design) Design House Style Corporate Identity, Logo, Stationery and Signage in all Parks £78,000 5 months Implemented
17. Moon Comms Ltd (Design) Design Study for House Style Phase II £22,000 4 months Implemented
18 Richard Moon (Design) Technical Support to signage project in all Parks; oversee production of signage £3,000 8 months Implemented
19. Pat Pierce (Writer) Write, design and project manage the production of new, illustrated guidebooks £3,650 4 months Implemented
20. John Fitzmaurice (Design) Design map artwork for guidebooks £1,490 4 months Implemented
21. Barbara Haynes (Editor) To edit guidebooks £700 4 months Implemented
22. Alisdair Macmillan—All Park Associates (All Parking Matters) Review contract, assess tenders and make recommendations for car parking contractors £5,000 2 months Implemented
23. Mike Loader (ex-Royal Parks Constabulary Deputy Chief Officer) To assist in 1994–95 recruitment of police constables for Royal Parks Constabulary £10,000 4 months Implemented
24. RTCC (Training) To devise and run 8 x 1 day training courses on reporting procedure £11,632 8 months Implemented
25 Robin Corbin (Horticulturist) Independent 6 monthly assessments of soft landscape quality £4,000 2 months Action taken as appropriate
26. Penny Jones (Design) Design and project manage production of new, illustrated tree handbook £8,075 18 months On-going
27. John Brown & Co (Marketing) Review existing attractions, promotional and marketing work, assess potential and prepare a costed programme of priorities £8,750 6 months Pending. (Views of interested parties being sought)
28. Mr. A. Gerrish (Met Police Dog Trainer) Advise on selection and training of police dogs, dog handlers and dog programme £4,000 1 year Implemented
29. Watson Wyatt & Co (Management Consultants) To carry out job evaluations and pay and grading modelling for delegated pay and grading scheme £15.203 1 year On-going
Consultancies entered into by the Royal Parks Agency since April 1993
Consultant's Name (Expertise) and Terms of Reference Amount Committed Period of Contract Action by RPA
30. Sally Hubbard (Management Consultants) Examine the management, organisation and structure of the Royal Parks Agency £40,000 6 months On-going
31. BWA Bernard Williams (Chartered Surveyor) Review current works management contract and recommend strategy £33.250 1 year On-going
32. Sigmund Shallit (Design) Commission to design 1994–95 Annual Report £8,000 6 months Implemented
33. (Robin Gray & A. H. Shepherd (Management) To project manage the introduction of a delegated pay and grading scheme £18,500 6 months On-going
34. Mike Loader (ex-Royal Parks Constabulary Deputy Chief Officer) To assist in 1995–96 recruitment of police constables for Royal Parks Constabulary £11,000 6 months On-going
35. DHV (Health and Safety) To review and assess Health & Safety procedures, make and implement recommendations £42,000 3 years On-going
1 Time charges.
2 1st year costs. Cost for years 2 and 3 based on a schedule of rates.
All amounts exclude VAT.
January 1996.