§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the latest estimates of the expenditure on external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 445W 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [4064]
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 14 November 1996]: Within the Northern Ireland departments and their agencies, expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992 in 1996 prices is:
- 1992–93: £22,097,000
- 1993–94: £31,889,000
- 1994–95: £26,462,000
- 1995–96: £25,543,000
As consultants are, in many instances, engaged to contribute particular skills to an element of much larger process, it is not possible to quantify savings which such expenditure has resulted in but, in each instance, consultants were engaged on the basis of best value for money.
Figures for the Northern Ireland Office are not currently available. I shall write to the hon. Member in due course.