[holding answer 17 January 2007]: Annual consultancy expenditure by the Environment Agency for the last 5 years is as follows:
Consultancy expenditure (£ million) 2005-06 110 2004-05 114 2003-04 107 2002-03 1102 2001-02 198 1 Estimated figures.
Percentage breakdown of consultancy services:
Service provided 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Engineering and Environmental Cons 65.0 66.5 65.2 Flood Management Consultancy 14.0 13.2 15.5 Management Consultants 5.0 4.0 5.5 IT Consultants 8.5 7.8 4.5 Cost Consultants 3.0 3.3 4.1 Environment Protection Consultants 3.0 3.6 3.7 Water Resources Consultancy 1.0 1.1 1.0 Fisheries and Aquaculture 0.5 0.5 0.5
The Environment Agency delivers a large capital programme and a significant number of services in support of its flood risk management activities. Externalisation of a large element of this competency occurred during the early 1990s when a significant element of business and staff were transferred into private sector civil engineering and environment consultancy practices.
The previous accounting system used by the Environment Agency did not provide detailed breakdown for years 2001-02 and 2002-03.
[holding answer 17 January 2007]: The Environment Agency has spent the following on lease cars for staff in each of the last five years:
£ million 2005-06 12 2004-05 10.1 2003-04 111.6 2002-03 111.2 2001-02 110.8 1 Figures are estimates based on vehicle numbers.