DfT corrects Thameslink cost error

摘要

In a written answer given in the House of Commons on July 20, Transport Minister Theresa Villiers said that since May 2008 DfT had spent approximately £13- 1m on consultancy for procurement of the new Thameslink fleet. She added that of this figure, '£5-3m has been spent since May 2010'. As RBI pointed out at the time (RB1395 p7), this was clearly an error since former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis had also put total consultancy fees for the project at £13m a year earlier. Corrected figures emerged in a new written answer given on September 14, which put total consultancy costs at £19-2m. John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes ft Harlington, had asked for details of consultants con tracted to advise DfT on the design, tendering and award of preferred bidder status for the new Thameslink fleet 'and what the cost to the public purse was of each such contract'.