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Agencies

Volume 264: debated on Thursday 26 October 1995

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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 17 October to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman), Official Report, column 183, if the three appointments of consultants in connection with the future of his agencies were made after considering alternative sources for such appointments tested by competition; and if those appointments are subjected to (a) maximum total cost ceilings (b) maximum cost per day ceilings or (c) a time limit for their appointment. [39334]

The three appointments of consultants in connection with the future of my agencies were made through a competitive process following an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities.The appointment to advise urgently on ways of increasing private sector involvement in the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, Recruitment and Assessment Services, the Central Office of Information and the Civil Service College is subject to a maximum total cost ceiling and a time limit.The total fees for the appointments in relation to HMSO and Chessington Computer Centre are fixed in so far as the projects conform to the terms of reference in the invitation to tender and the assumptions set out in the bids from the financial advisers. Elements outside the control of the financial advisers may lead to an application for additional fees which would then need to be carefully considered. Expenditure will be closely monitored.