1,560% rise in London Development Agency consultant bill in 2 years

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jul 2004

Shocking new figures revealed today by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Spokesman on Economic Development, Dee Doocey, shows that the amount spent on consultants by the London Development Agency has tripled in the last three weeks and increased by 1,563% in the last two years.

The figures, revealed in Parliamentary answers and Mayoral answers show that in 2001/02, the London Development Agency spent £781,000. The Mayor then told the DTI that this year the LDA would spend £4million. However, in new figures published by the Mayor in late July this soared to £13million.

Dee Doocey said:-

"The massive increase in the amount spent on London Development Agency consultants raises serious issues about the transparency and accountability of the LDA.

"The Mayor told Ministers that the LDA would spend £4million and yet less than two months into his new term of office the Mayor is now telling Londoners that this has trebled.

"London's taxpayers want to know who these consultants are, what these consultants do and demonstrate whether this is providing real value for money."