§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on consultants in respect of private finance initiative projects in each of the last five years. [130504]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 17 July 2000]: The information sought is not held centrally.
Technical Note No. 3, "How to Appoint and Manage Advisers", issued by the former Treasury taskforce, sets out best practice in this area. It suggests that accounting officers may wish to take the guidance into account in accordance with their responsibilities on value for money.
Procurement Guidance No. 3, "Appointment of Consultants and Contractors", issued by the former procurement group of HM Treasury, provides advice on how to achieve value for money in the appointment of consultants and contractors.
Both publications are now the responsibility of the Office of Government Commerce.
I am today placing copies of both publications in the Library.