§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on980W external consultants since its creation; what percentage this sum represents of (a) his Department's total expenditure and (b) the cost of running the Department; and if he will make a statement. [93955]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 28 January 2003]: My Department came into being in May 2002. Expenditure on external consultants by my Department up to the end of December 2002 was £93.1 million. This represents 1 per cent. of my departmental expenditure limit. Of this £93.1 million, £1.7 million relates to the cost of running my Department and this represents 0.4 per cent. of my Department's administration costs limit.