HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 cc352-3W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [11347]

Mr. Norris

The figures requested are as follows:

Year Expenditure £ million
1993–94 24.2
1994–95 29.0
1995–96 (to date) 31.0
1995–961 (whole year) 51.5
1996–971 26.6
1Estimated.

Figures from 1979–80, 1989–90 and 1991–92 are not available except at disproportionate cost.

The totals exclude expenditure on road scheme consultancies as they relate largely to production and planning work.

It is not possible to estimate the savings accruing from this expenditure, the vast majority of which was for specific deliverables such as privatisation; and very little of which had the aim of achieving savings.

Mr. Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity 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 break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11348]

Mr. Norris

The expenditure by the Department is as follows:

£000
Agency 1979–80 1989–90 1991–92 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1995–961 1996–97
MSA 104 55 80 80
Coastguard agency 241 206 281 n/a
Highways agency:
Advertising 320 110 n/a
Publicity 20 1,000 n/a
TRL:
Advertising 0.59 19 25 2n/a
Publicity 23.59 5
DVLA:
Advertising 6 736 1,192 1,604 1,506 1,177 2,200 2,200
Publicity 27 43 45 26 38 38
DSA 30 40 40 40 n/a
1Estimated outturn.
2 TRL is to be privatised.

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