§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent, broken down(a) by consulting firm and (b) by project, on A6, Post Office consultancy and other expenditure related to the Post Office, as stated in Annex b in the Trade and Industry Government Expenditure plans for 2000–01; and if she will make a statement. [63545]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 21 June 2002]: Payments to individual consultants are commercially confidential. The firms that advised Government were:
- Deloitte and Touche (Financial Advice)
- Herbert Smith (Legal Advice)
- OC&C (Strategy Consultants)
- RKR (Strategy Consultants)
- Lazard (Investment Bank).
An independent legal adviser also provided a limited amount of legal advice.
The amount paid for advice per project is as follows1
all licensed postal operators; and if she will make a statement. [63504]
§ John HealeyI have been asked to reply.
The UK VAT exemption for public postal services applies only to the Post Office company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, such as Consignia plc, providing the public postal service.