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Export Licences
Mr. Drew: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted for the export of military, security or police equipment to Kenya in the last two years. [25133]
Mrs. Roche: The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. Between 1 January 1996 and 12 January 1998, 79 standard individual licences and 37 Open Individual Licences were issued for the export to end users or consignees in Kenya of goods controlled by Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List"). The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating.
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Individual export licences often cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.
This information should be considered in light of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870-71.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the countries to which goods covered by Category PL5001 under Export of Goods (Control) orders have been exported since 1 May 1997. [28001]
Mrs. Roche:
The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated, and the following results were obtained. Between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998, individual export licences covering goods controlled under entry PL5001 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order are recorded as having been issued to the following countries: Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.
However, this information should be considered in light of the answer I gave on 30 October 1997 to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), Official Report, columns 870-71.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received on the cost of the use of mobile telephones. [30190]
Mrs. Roche:
I have received very few representations on the cost of the use of mobile telephones; these are normally made to the Director General of Telecommunications. In March 1997, following concerns over prices expressed by consumers, OFTEL published a Consultative Document on the Price of Calls to Mobile Phones. This report sought views on the proposal that the price to consumers of calling mobile phones on the Vodaphone and Cellnet networks was too high. OFTEL is considering the responses it received to the consultation and is expected to announce its conclusions shortly.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when representatives from her Department last met the Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council. [30473]
19 Feb 1998 : Column: 813
Mr. Battle:
I met Professor Radda, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC) at the end of January. The Director General of the Research Councils, Sir John Cadogan, and the Director of the Science and Engineering Base Group attended the February meeting of the MRC Council. Sir John Cadogan also holds regular monthly meetings with the Chief Executives of all seven Research Councils, most recently on 12 February.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when officials from her Department last met the General Manager of Transco East Midlands. [30187]
Mr. Battle:
My officials have not met the General Manager of Transco East Midlands, but regularly meet national Transco officials as I did recently.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she last met the Chief Executive of Transco. [30186]
Mr. Battle:
Ministers meet the Chief Executive of BG plc (of which Transco is part) from time to time (as I did recently).
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the effect of the Monopolies and Mergers' Commission inquiry on the operation of Transco. [30189]
Mr. Battle:
Assessment of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into the Transco price control is a matter for the Director General of Gas Supply to whom the report was submitted.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the future of the KONVER programme; and what alternative funding the Government will make available to help those made redundant from defence related industries when the KONVER programme ends. [27539]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The current framework for Structural Fund Community Initiatives is due to expire at the end of 1999. In its communication, "Agenda 2000" published on 16 July 1997, the European Commission outlined its approach to a new regulatory framework for the Structural Funds for the period 2000-06. The Commission has proposed that a new Objective 2 should replace current Community Initiatives that address industrial restructuring, such as KONVER, and it expected to publish the new draft Structural Funds regulations in March or April. In negotiating these regulations, the UK will press for an Objective 2 which allows Member States to target funds effectively at areas of need--such as those which have been subject to industrial restructuring. The Government are currently undertaking regional consultations with interested parties to hear their views on the implications in the UK of Structural Fund reform.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the expenditure of her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995-96,
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(ii) 1996-97, (iii) 1997-98 to date and (iv) 1997-98 full year; and if she will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26593]
Mrs. Beckett
[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The value of contracts let centrally to external consultants for 1995-96 was £4.37 million, for 1996-97 was £1.13 million, and for 1997-98 to date is £1.21 million. The estimated forecast for the full year 1997-98 is £4.54 million.
It is not possible to identify separately any cost savings resulting from the engagement of external consultants, whose work typically contributed to broader consultation exercises.
Information in respect of expenditure by non-departmental public bodies on external consultants is not kept centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost.
The above information excludes external consultancies let independently by the Department's Executive Agencies. I have asked Agency Chief Executives to reply separately.
Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
| £ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 (to date) | Forecast 1997-98 (full year) | |
| Shreeveport Ltd | 460,492 | -- | -- | -- |
| Bevan Ashford | 35,653 | -- | -- | -- |
| Bond Pearce | 6,392 | -- | -- | -- |
| Ernst & Young | 7,284 | -- | -- | -- |
| Ibbotson Twigg | 84,890 | -- | -- | -- |
| Bowrings | 2,937 | -- | -- | -- |
| Impact | 122,311 | -- | -- | -- |
| Psychological Services | -- | 13,512 | 12,128 | 16,240 |
| Birmingham Tec | -- | -- | 2,562 | 5,000 |
| Kathy Beavers | -- | -- | 7,612 | 10,200 |
| Beamans Management Consultants | -- | 23,427 | 7,593 | 11,353 |
| TQM International | -- | -- | 2,514 | 7,914 |
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Letter from Roger Louth to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
The expenditure in 1995-96 was principally in respect of The Service's contracting out study. Ministers decided that the administrative work of Official Receivers should remain in-house, and in 1996-97 a saving of 8% on the unit cost of case administration, representing some £2 million that year (and subsequently), was achieved.
Expenditure in 1996-97 and in the current year principally relates to The Service's commitment to the achievement of IIP accreditation and to the introduction of a new grading and pay system for Service staff.
Letter from Dr. Seton Bennett to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about expenditure on external consultants.
The last consultant employed by this Agency was in 1995/96, at a cost of £3,800. No consultant has been employed by us in the two subsequent years. The 1995/96 consultancy was a rather small exercise and the resultant cost savings cannot readily be estimated.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Financial year | Expenditure |
| 1995/96 | 256,000 |
| 1996/97 | 860,831 |
| 1997/98 to date | 1,478,698 |
| 1997/98 full year | 2,359,819 |
Letter from John Holden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
3. All the expenditure involves the provision of strategic advice. Savings resulting from decisions taken in response to such advice will not be quantifiable for some time. When engaging external consultants "value for money" is the Agency's prime consideration.
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| Year | Expenditure |
| 1995/96 | 130 |
| 1996/97 | 1,000 |
| 1997/98 to date | 900 |
| 1997/98 full year estimate | 1,200 (year to date--9 months grossed up) |
Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
Letter from Ian Jones to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 February 1998:
19 Feb 1998 : Column: 816
Consultants have only been employed--principally in the field of IT--where they represented the most cost-effective, and in some cases the only, solution to deliver a defined business benefit in excess of their cost.
I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of trade about use of external consultants.
In 1995/6 the Patent Office spent £138,000 on external consultants and in 1996/7 £124,000. So far it has spent £39,000 in 1997/8 and that is likely to be the total spend. There have been reductions in staff and accommodation costs and efficiency gains through streamlined work practices consequent on these consultancy studies. It is difficult to quantify savings in each and every case but reductions in accommodation needs have, for example, led to continuing annual savings of nearly £140,000 from 1995/6.
I have been asked by the President of the Board of trade to reply, in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), to your question about expenditure on external consultants.
The ETS did not assume responsibility for letting its own contracts until it gained agency status on 1 April 1997. Expenditure on external consultants in the financial year 1997/98 has so far amounted to £64,250.30. The figures you requested for expenditure in earlier years are covered by replies from the Department for Education and Employment (for the former Employment Department) and the Department of Trade and Industry. Planned expenditure for this financial year in full is estimated at £72,250.30.
Savings resulting from decisions taken in response to consultancy work will not be quantifiable for some time. When engaging external consultants "value for money" is the Agency's first consideration.
I hope that this is helpful.
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