Speaker given list of consultancy costs

A written answer to a Tynwald question has detailed the millions of pounds being spent by the Manx government on consultancy fees.

The list contains some very large sums, and relates to work being carried out for 32 different government bodies.

Among numerous examples, the Water and Sewerage Authority has paid out £142,000 for work on the sludge treatment works; £88,000 on integral rotating biological contractors at Glen Mona, Glen Maye and other locations; and £120,000 on services at the Ramsey Service Reservoir.

Design work for the new Bemahague school eats up £735,000 for work carried out by architects Savage and Chadwick, £233,000 for Dalrymple Associates, £380,000 for Holmes Grace and £364,000 for ES Consulting. Kay Associates were paid £153,000 for work on an extension at Victoria Road Primary School.

The Highways Division spent £72,000 on landscaping works and £34,000 on feasibility studies for capital projects.

But the biggest sum is £3.2 million, paid by the chief secretary's office, to consultants Hymans Robertson, for the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme.

The figures could provide ammunition to those who claim the Isle of Man overspends on such work.

On the other hand, the various arms of government will argue that such expert opinion is needed and, in some cases, may not be available on Island.

The information has been supplied by Chief Minister Allan Bell for Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan, and relates to 'all consultancy contracts currently in place'.