asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the full cost of the study recently carried out at 14 Maintenance Unit, RAF Carlisle.

For reasons of commercial confidentiality we do not disclose the costs of specific studies undertaken for the Department by outside management consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he used an outside firm of accountants rather than his Department's own staff for the recent study at 14 Maintenance Unit, RAF Carlisle.

The study referred to, covered the whole of the RAF supply management organisation and not just 14 maintenance unit, RAF Carlisle. Decisions on whether to use internal MOD resources or external consultants on studies of this kind are taken on their merits, taking into account factors such as staff resources and availability, relevant expertise, time scale and cost.