§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the expenditure of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996‒97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if he will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26612]
§ Mr. Ron Davies[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The figures for my Department are as follows:
£000 Year Amount 1995–96 1,212 1996–97 600 1997–98 to date 700 1997–98 full year not yet available CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments, the only Agency for which my Department has sole responsibility, has not incurred any expenditure in the employment of external consultants during this period.
Details of expenditure on consultants by non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department are not held centrally; it is a matter for individual non-departmental public bodies to determine as part of the day-to-date management of their affairs.