§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to(a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11358]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11355]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonExpenditure by the Scottish Office and its associated agencies on external consultants including management consultants was:
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- 1989–90: £2,095,000
- 1991–92: £10,836,000
- 1993–94: £5,383,000
- 1994–95: £4,079,000
- 1995–96: £5,758,000
No details are currently available centrally on the expenditure during 1979–80, the expenditure to date on external consultants for 1995–96, the estimate of expenditure for 1996–97, or the expenditure by non-departmental public bodies. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Not all consultancy projects are capable of being measured in terms of identifiable savings. The Scottish Office is currently preparing a report summarising the benefits obtained from major projects since April 1992. I shall write to the hon. Member on this subject as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.