§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97417]
§ Mr. HainThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent the following sums on external consultancy and advice during the last four financial years:
- 1995–96: £17.7 million;
- 1996–97: £11.8 million;
- 1997–98: £15.8 million;
- 1998–99: £14.5 million.
The bulk of FCO consulting expenditure is for technical expertise on capital projects, predominantly on estate related and information technology development at home and overseas.