§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the terms upon which media and public affairs consultants have been appointed by the Audit Commission over the last five years, and the total amounts spent each year with each consultant. [46109]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Audit Commission's press and public affairs functions have been provided externally for more than nine years. These services are market tested every three years in accordance with relevant EC Directives and, following the last market test, two companies—Citigate Westminster and Lawson, Lucas and Mendelsohn—were appointed. Whilst details of the contractual terms are commercially confidential between the Audit Commission and individual contractors, the Commission has incurred the following expenditure on these services in each of the last five years
£174,145: 1 April 1997 to 31 October 1997 (new financial period)£311,998: year to 31 March 1997£315,255: year to 31 March 1996£236,747: year to 31 March 1995£172,107: year to 31 March 1994.