HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 cc414-5W
Mr. Rogers

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much(a) his Department and (b) the NHS trusts in Wales, spent on external consultants in each year since 1989. [93108]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

(a) The figures for the Welsh Office on external consultancies are as follows:

Year £
1992–93 1,550,000
1993–94 1,550,000
1994–95 843,000
1995–96 1,212,000
1996–97 600,000
1997–98 700,000
1998–99 1 835,000
1 Forecast outturn

Figures for years prior to 1992–93 are available only at disproportionate cost.

(b) The figures for the NHS Trusts in Wales, including external contract staffing and consultancies service are as follows:

Year £
1992–93 230,000
1993–94 554,000
1994–95 2,017,000
1995–96 7,949,000
1996–97 1,859,000
1997–98 3,292,000
1998–99 2,107,000

There are no figures prior to 1992–93 as NHS Trusts have been operational only since 1 April 1992. The 1998–99 figures are taken from unaudited accounts and are provisional.

Following the Transfer of Functions on 1 July 1999, these are now matters for the National Assembly for Wales.