§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules or guidelines govern the use by Government Departments of paid advisers or consultants from the private sector.
§ Mr. RyderCentral terms and conditions and guidance, supplemented as appropriate by individual Departments, govern the use by Government Departments of paid advisers or consultants from the private sector.
Special advisers are appointed by Ministers under terms and conditions of service which in the main are the same as for civil servants. They are used by Ministers as considered necessary subject to those terms and conditions.
Guidance on the use of consultants is contained in the establishement officers guide. For management consultancy this is supplemented by the Treasury's "Seeking Help from Management Consultants" booklet. Other central advice is also provided, by, for example, the Treasury's central unit on purchasing for works consultants and by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency for computer consultancies.