asked the Secretary of State for Wales in how many instances since 1979 he has appointed outside consultants to undertake work within his Department; and if he will specify which consultants, their remuneration and in respect of which sections of his Department their work was commissioned.

Information relating to the appointment, by my Department, of outside consultants prior to the financial year 1984–85 is not readily available and to provide it would involve disproportionate costs.In the financial year 1984–85, outside consultants were appointed by my Department in four instances to undertake specialised one-off tasks. The following are details of the consultants concerned, their remuneration and the sections of the Department in respect of which the work was commissioned.