§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) secondees and (b) consultants are working for his Department on (i) private finance initiative arid (ii) other issues; and at what cost to public funds in (1) the current financial year and (2) 1997–98. [3673]
§ Mr. HagueThirteen people are currently on secondment to my Department, at a total cost in 1996–97 of £351,500. One is working on the private finance initiative. My Department plans to spend around £880,000 on external consultants in 1996–97, including £130,000 on PFI-related work. Plans for expenditure on inward secondments and external consultancy in 1997–98 have not yet been decided.