§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11335]
§ Mr. Horam[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The Department of Health and its agencies have spent the following amounts from running costs on consultancy:
- 1991–92: £24,258,000
- 1993–94: £15,933,037
- 1994–95: £18,479,405
- 1995–96: £11,100,000 (to date)
Expenditure of some £17 million is estimated for the whole of the 1995–96 financial year. Estimates of expenditure for 1996–97 are not yet available.
Details of consultancy expenditure for 1979–80 and 1989–90 are not available, the Department. of Health formed part of the Department of Health and Social Security until July 1988 and the Department's accounting records did not identify consultancy expenditure separately.
Consultancy expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is as follows:
- 1989–90: £125,532
- 1991–92: £271,237
- 1993–94: £661,256
- 1994–95: £664,984
- 1995–96: £333,532 (to date)
Expenditure of some £538,000 is estimated for the whole of the 1995–96 financial year and expenditure of some £510,000 is estimated for 1996–97.
Details of expenditure by non-departmental public bodies for 1979–80 are not held.
External consultants provide advice on improving efficiency and effectiveness in the Department. They have contributed to a large variety of projects, including the Department's "Competing for Quality" programme; but it is not possible to assess the savings which are a direct consequence of their activity.