§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) when each Department produced its(a) initial report on progress and achievements and (b) final report on formulating an action plan in response to paragraph 31, page 9 of the efficiency unit's report. "The Government's Use of External Consultants", August 1994; [9993]
(2) what assessments have been made on the use of external consultants since the August 1994 efficiency unit report reviews. [9995]
§ Mr. FreemanAll Departments have taken action to implement the recommendations of the scrutiny. Action plans were received from all Departments shortly after publication of the scrutiny report and all Departments have carried out, or have programmes in place to carry out, implementation as described in those plans. As part of the continuing initiative to improve value derived from expenditure on consultancy, the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, at the end of 1995, conducted as assessment of the processes Departments use to subject related expenditure to ministerial approval. The efficiency unit continues to monitor Departments' expenditure on consultants.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what form advice and guidance is issued to(a) individual Government Departments and (b) non-departmental public bodies on the use of external consultants. [9983]
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§ Mr. FreemanComprehensive and relevant advice and guidance on good practice is contained in the efficiency unit's scrutiny, "The Government's Use of External Consultants" (HMSO: August 1994); this is available to all Departments and non-departmental public bodies. Many Departments have produced and issued their own guidance in light of the report.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update his estimate of the 20 most used external consultant firms as contained in the efficiency unit's report "The Government's Use of External Consultants", August 1994. [9994]
§ Mr. FreemanI have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10190]
§ Mr. FreemanNo money has been spent on external consultants by my Department's non-departmental public bodies in the last five years.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10191]
§ Mr. FreemanThe Cabinet Office has acted on the 34 recommendations contained in the report. In implementing the recommendations it has improved its management and control of the use of consultants, including monitoring expenditure and value gained. Guidance on buying and using external consultancy has been circulated to staff.