§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost of consultants employed by each of the regional development agencies to date; and what is the projected expenditure over the next two years. [128899]
§ Ms Beverley HughesIn 1999–2000, the first full year of the RDAs' operations, the estimated expenditure on directly-employed consultants was less than 1 per cent. of their total budget, as follows:
£000 One NorthEast 910 Northwest Development Agency 1,960 Yorkshire Forward 1,040 East Midlands Development Agency 1,550 Advantage West Midlands 950 East of England Development Agency 350 South East Development Agency 680 South West Development Agency 290 Total 7,730 Estimates for expenditure on consultants for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not available.