To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department paid in fees or salary for each of the last three years in respect of (a) the Government freight market representative on the Baltic exchange, (b) the Government freight agent and (c) other specialist ship brokers.

The Government freight market representative received no payments from the Department. Payments were made to the Government freight agent (GFA) in respect of freight forwarding and shipping services for the movement of Government cargoes by land, sea and air. These totalled £1,919,145 and £1,514,812 during the years 1988–89 and 1989–90 respectively. Since 1 January 1990, the Ministry of Defence has been responsible for the appointment of the GFA. This Department has made no payments to other specialised ship brokers.