Column Eight: Treasury calls for help

Price Waterhouse, the firm with the dubious distinction of having audited Bank of Credit and Commerce International, is so keen for new clients it has won the soubriquet 'Half-Price Waterhouse' in beancounting circles.

It is therefore a particular pleasure to report that it has won a new client: Norman Lamont. PW has seconded one of its management consultants, Andrew Hooke, to the Treasury to help it improve efficiency.

Mr Hooke, who will be there for six or nine months, is advising on performance-related pay, among other things. There's little chance of permanent secretary Sir Terry Burns's salary being inversely-linked to interest rates, I'm told.

Never mind Texaco or Amex. Canary Wharf has some new and more exciting tenants. A family of falcons (according to our man with the binocs) have made their home on the tower's 50th floor and can be seen flying around during the day.

Ernst & Young, the administrators, are frantically searching for the nest. Whether it is to evict them or charge them rent is not clear.

Reuters Holdings' announcement that Michael Green, chairman of Carlton Communications, is joining its board is accompanied by the comment that he replaces Andrew Knight of News International, 'who asked to be released from the board'.

Released? Has he been held against his will? Or has his departure something to do with NI selling its Reuters shares?

sells car registration numbers on behalf of the DVLC, wrested pounds 75,000 from a Leeds businessman for G 1 LLY. Its best price this year was a niggardly pounds 31,000 for ANG 1 E.

Readers may recall how Richard Adams was ousted last month from Northumbrian Fine Foods, the outfit that bakes cakes and biscuits for InterCity among others. Perhaps his pounds 225,000 pay-off, disclosed yesterday, will sweeten the bitter taste of rejection.

A plea to athletes, preferably from rich City institutions. The charity Whizz- Kidz, which provides speedy wheelchairs for disabled children, is seeking sponsored runners for the New York marathon in November. It will fly you over for free if you get pledges of pounds 1,250 or more.

Teams from Slaughter & May and Lazards have already signed up, as has the CID apparently. Details from Queenie Copping on 071-938 4600. 'Tell the City we're banking on them,' she says.