§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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). [11382]
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The information requested is not readily available and could be partially provided only at disproportionate cost. But the annual telephony cost figures are available for:
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Diplomatic wing£ Aid wing £ 1989–90 — 452,070 1991–92 6,077,642.00 458,224 1993–94 5,947,217.00 511,399 1994–95 6,088,960.71 489,796 1995–96 15,335,000.00 1486,000 1996–97 14,986,789.00 486.000 1Estimate.
Agencies Wiston House £ NRI £ 1991–92 2,462.00 193,251 1993–94 2,797.00 188,765 1994–95 3,714.00 217,506 1995–96 14,000.00 1191,785 1996–97 14,000.00 1185,000 Estimate. Our department makes use of CCTA's Metropolitan Telephony Service—MTS—which provides us with fully managed telephony and directory services. The MTS service provides an annual estimate of telephony charges.
Internal telephone directories are available to all staff in the United Kingdom and at major UK diplomatic missions overseas.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [11379]
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 25 January 1996]: Consultants are employed in a number of roles, including contracted services and the design and management of projects. The work of external consultants is only one factor to be taken into consideration in assessing the results of such projects.
The table contains figures for expenditure on consultants for the years 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96. The table also contains estimates for 1996–97. Figures exclude the cost of consultants engaged on projects under the bilateral aid programme. The bulk of expenditure within the diplomatic wing was for technical expertise on capital projects and information technology.
Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Body Rank Number Salary £ Minimum annual time spent New Town Development Corporations D/Chairman 3 10,578 52 days Members 9 4,777 26 days Scottish Homes Member 1 6,830 24 days Mainland Health Boards Members 7 5,000 36 days Mainland NHS Trusts Members 16 5,000 36 days Scottish Examination Board Members 6 Nil 4 days Scottish Enterprise Member 1 7,600 14 days Highlands and Islands Enterprise1 Member 1 7,595 14 days Scottish Community Education Council1 Member 1 Nil 4 meetings Scottish Sports Council Member 1 Nil 11 meetings SCOTVEC Member 1 Nil 5 days Scottish Arts Council Members 2 Nil 4 days Scottish Environment Protection Agency Members 3 5,000 24 days Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Members 2 3,000 24 days Council 2 5,000 48 days 1Same Person.
Diplomatic wing £ million Aid wing £ 1993–94 14.2 618,700 1994–95 13.6 505,300 1995–96 (to date) 10.5 621,500 1995–96 (estimated outturn) 15.8 869,000 1996–97 (estimate) 13.5 530,000