§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97418]
§ Mr. KilfoyleMy Department's spending on external consultants over the last four financial years is as follows:
Year £ million 1998–89 175.6 1997–98 148.1 1996–97 136.7 1995–96 150.8 Details of expenditure are submitted annually to the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Effectiveness Group and placed in the Library of the House.
We employ a number of individuals in an advisory capacity. Many of these are consultants whose costs will be included in the figures given in the table. We do not hold figures centrally on others employed as advisers and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.