andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the expenditure of £9,000 on consultancy services in 1984; the number of people employed on this work; and how these people were recruited.
Written Answers. - Consultancy Services.
623.
To date no expenditure has been incurred under the provision of £9,000 in subhead A2 of the Vote for Defence in 1984 in respect of the employment of consultancy services.
624.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will give details of the expenditure of £230,000 on consultancy services in 1984; the number of people employed on this work; and how these people were recruited.
The provisional out-turn of £230,000 (the final expenditure figure will not, of course, become clear until the year is completed) for consultancy services in 1984 comprises the following:
|
£ |
|
|
Administrative Research |
115,000 |
|
Civil Service Training |
60,000 |
|
Management Services |
28,500 |
|
Miscellaneous |
26,500 |
|
Total |
230,000 |
It is not possible to state the total number of people employed. In most cases it is institutions or firms that are engaged rather than individuals and such organisations assign staff on a full or part time basis, for different phases of projects.
The arrangements for selecting the institutions, firms and individuals concerned vary from case to case. For example, administrative research projects are commissioned by the Committee on Administrative Research normally from the Institute of Public Administration. The selection of management consultants to assist the Management Services Directorate is made under the Code of Practice for Government Departments in Employing Management Consultants. The Civil Service Training Centre commissions the Institute of Public Administration to present courses on the basis of a standing arrangement. Other consultants are selected on the basis of their specialist knowledge or expertise.
625.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for the Public Service the reason an increase of 74 per cent is being estimated for consultancy services in his Department for 1985; and how the additional £170,000 will be spent.
The provision for consultancy services for the Department is being increased in 1985 mainly to provide for additional consultancy assistance to the Department in its task of improving efficiency and effectiveness in the public service and in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on the Public Service. Some additional expenditure is also being provided on administrative research projects and on consultancy for the Civil Service Training Centre.
626.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will give details of the expenditure of £25,000 on consultancy services in 1984; the number of people employed on this work; and how these people were recruited.
The expenditure in question is for the employment of a firm of consultants for public relations work for the Department. An annual fee of £18,000 (plus V A T) is paid to the consultants plus approved expenses as prescribed by Civil Service regulations.