§ Ms HodgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) his Ministry (b) by agencies for which his Ministry is responsible for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25554]
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 6 June 1995]: Individual budget holders in my Department have delegated powers to employ consultants as they see fit within the limit of their resources and consistent with all requirements for propriety and value for money. There are no centrally held records of the value of consultancy contracts let by the Department itself and such a record could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Total expenditure by agencies of the Ministry of Defence, as opposed to the Department directly, on consultants was £9.5 million in 1993–94 and £21.1 million in 1994–95. The projected figure for 1995–96 is around £23 million.