HL Deb 07 September 2004 vol 664 cc121-2WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In light of their recent proposed reductions in the number of full-time Civil Service posts, whether they intend to introduce measures to prevent job substitution using outside consultants. [HL3924]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)

The 2004 spending review announced that every department is required to consider and agree with the Office of Government Commerce by December 2004 how to pursue improvements in the value for money of all

(£m)
Year 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05
Grant-in-aid1 44.7 47.8 48.0 245.1 47.1 47.9 48.4
1 Figures for 1998–99 to 2002–03 comprise funding for BTA, ETB and ETC.
2 Since April 2001, £1.5 million per year formerly allocated to BTA has been paid to the Greater London Authority for the promotion of London as a gateway to Britain.

procurement of external professional services. This will include putting in place strong controls on the engagement of external service providers and ensuring public visibility of expenditure on these services.