HC Deb 24 January 2001 vol 361 c648W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by(a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category.[144073]

Dr. Reid

Information on individual projects undertaken by consultants, academic researchers and university departments for the former Scottish Office is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. We have commissioned one report, from Colin Buchanan and Partners of Edinburgh, to compare motor taxation across Europe. The cost of the work was £5,464. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library and on the Department's website.