asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the expenditure of £75,000 on consultancy services in 1985; the names of the consultants employed; the number of consultants; the way in which these people were recruited; and the number of tenders received for this work.
Written Answers - Consultancy Services.
45.
There was no expenditure in 1985 from the Vote for the Office of the Minister for Finance in respect of commercial consultants. A total sum of £71,200 was paid from the Vote for professional accountants seconded from the Industrial Credit Company for the purpose of assisting and advising departmental staff in their consideration of the accounts and financial affairs of State-sponsored bodies.
46.
asked the Minister for Finance the reason an increase of 60 per cent is being estimated for consultancy services in his Department for 1986; and the way in which the additional £45,000 will be spent.
A major factor in the increase is a provision of £20,000 in respect of a proposed study of the Minister for Finance's superannuation liability arising from the reorganisation of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. A sum of £20,000 was provided for this purpose in the 1985 Estimate but was not expended.
The balance of the increase is to cover possible needs in respect of specialist advice on computerisation or other developments additional to the main constituent of the subhead provision, that is, the employment of professional accountants seconded from the Industrial Credit Company.