§ Baroness Wilcoxasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much money has been spent by the Cabinet Office on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996–97. [HL79)
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in another place to the Member for 13uckingham by my honourable friend the Member for Shipley on 26 March 2002 (Official Reportcol. 815W).
The total cost to the Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information for the use of consultants in the financial year 2001–02 is £16,875,000.
This increase in expenditure in 2001–02 reflects work on such studies as broadband research, international e-economy benchmarking, and e-security and authentication. Other Cabinet Office consultancy spend is on research and IT developments.