§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe cannot apportion expenditure between the Department of Health and Social Security before 1985–86. The estimate expenditure for each succeeding financial year on fees and expenses for management consultants on health matters is as follows:
Financial year £ million 1985–86 0.479 1986–87 2.103 1987–88 1.244 1988–89 1.584 1989–90 4.870 1990–91 2.870 The figures up to and including 1988–89 are approximate as expenditure was from a joint health and social security budget. In some cases expenditure has been apportioned where consultants have been engaged on both health and social security matters.
The budget for 1991–92 is £2.9 million.
In general, external management consultants are employed by the Department when expertise in a specialist technique is necessary; when investigations are required that extend beyond the Department's own boundary; or when the Department's own resources are too few, or too committed on other work, to tackle an urgent problem and help cannot be obtained from within the civil service.