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Consultants (Expenditure)
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996-97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department for the use of consultants in each of these years. [11351]
Mr. Boswell [holding answer 25 January 1996]: Expenditure on consultants in the financial year 1979-80 could be provided only at disproportionate expense. Expenditure in each of the other years concerned was as follows:
| Financial year | Expenditure (£) |
|---|---|
| 1989-90 | 2,972,150 |
| 1991-92 | 5,374,284 |
| 1993-94 | 13,071,785 |
| 1994-95 | 12,259,782 |
| 1995-96 (to date) | 10,245,969 |
| 1995-96 (whole year estimated) | 14,736,635 |
| 1996-97 (estimated) | 11,328,389 |
These figures exclude the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Meat Hygiene Service, which will be submitting separate replies.
It is not possible to quantify savings accruing from this expenditure, since most of the benefits derive from new systems and working methods, and from the consultants' expertise in certain fields, in which permanent staff do not have the necessary knowledge and experience.
Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 26 January 1996:
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Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list mortalities amongst wild birds imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1989. [8776]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 19 January 1996]: Mortality statistics for wild birds imported into the UK have been published for the years 1988 and 1992 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. A summary of the results is set out. Statistics for 1993 and 1994 are in preparation and these will also be placed in the Library as soon as they are published.
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The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure on external consultants by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for 1979-80 and each year since 1989-90, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
The Directorate was established as a Next Steps Agency on 2 April 1990 and did not maintain its own accounts until 1991-92.
Details of expenditure on external consultants since that date are as follows:
1991-92: £ 5,869
1992-93: £ 41,272
1993-94: £ 34,281
1994-95: £ 12,705
1995-96: £ 4,042 (to date)
1995-96: £ 5,500 (Forecast)
1996-97: £ 6,000 (Forecast)
It is not possible to quantify savings accruing from this expenditure, since most of the benefits derive from new systems and working methods and from the consultants expertise in certain fields, in which permanent staff do not have the necessary knowledge and experience.
| Number imported | Dead on arrival | Percentage | Dead in quarantine | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 184,577 | 4,732 | 2.56 | 20,619 | 11.17 |
| 1989 | 184,601 | 4,015 | 2.17 | 19,471 | 10.55 |
| 1990 | 175,967 | 3,543 | 2.01 | 18,138 | 10.31 |
| 1991 | 129,490 | 3,444 | 2.66 | 15,734 | 12.15 |
| 1992 | 94,927 | 3,573 | 3.76 | 9,506 | 10.01 |
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Job Advertisements
Mr. Janner:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three
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months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13834]
Mr. Boswell:
The number of jobs advertised by his Department by grade during the last three months, and the number of applicants for each job, is as follows:
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Job Advertisements
Mr. Janner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13829]
Sir John Wheeler: The information in respect of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is in the table.
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| Grade | Number of posts advertised | Number of applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Casual Administrative Assistant | 55 | 499 |
| Casual Administrative Assistant | (1)Not specified | 1,028 |
| Casual Assistant Scientific Officer | 4 | 33 |
| Casual Support Grade Band 2: Laboratory Attendant | 12 | 25 |
| Casual Support Grade Band 2 | (1)Not specified | 221 |
| Casual Inspector Group 1 | 15 | 27 |
| Casual Inspector Grade III/IV | 9 | 66 |
| Temporary Instructional Officer | 1 | 5 |
| Part-time Medical Referee | (1)Not specified | 51 |
| Sessional Inspector | (1)Not specified | 20 |
| Sessional Health Education Nurse: Grade D | (1)Not specified | 41 |
| Casual Typist | (1)Not specified | 24 |
| Casual Contractor | (1)Not specified | 54 |
| Miscellaneous Industrial Posts | 32 Permanent 12 Casual | 301 |
| Casual Typist | 2 | 16 |
| Ranger | 1 | 3 |
| Water Operator | 3 | 6 |
| Road Worker | 5 | 79 |
| Motor Mechanic | 2 | 2 |
| Fitter | 1 | 4 |
(1) DHSS and NIO advertised periodically to create a pool of suitable candidates.
Water Leakage
Mrs. Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made over the last five years of leakage from the public water supply on a comparable basis with those figures that have been produced by the privatised water companies in England and Wales. [13422]
Mr. Moss
[holding answer 6 February 1996]: Losses from the public water distribution system in Northern Ireland are currently estimated to be 9.5 cu m per kilometre of main per day. This is in the mid range of figures issued by Ofwat for England and Wales. Earlier leakage assessments for Northern Ireland were not made on the comparative basis issued by Ofwat.
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Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department, his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses for (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95, (f) 1995-96 and (g) 1996-97. [11426]
Sir John Wheeler
[holding answer 30 January 1996]: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information on all travel, accommodation and other associated expenses of Northern Ireland Departments is listed.
Information on non-departmental public bodies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the Northern Ireland Office is not included.
£000s
1979-80: n/a
1989-90: 8,758 1
1991-92: 13,744
1993-94: 15,207
1994-95: 14,204
1995-96: 15,798
1996-97: 4,657 2
Note:
1 Information not available in DHSS and DANI.
2 Excludes DED, DOE and DHSS as budgets have not yet been agreed.
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