§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Attorney-General what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10174]
§ The Attorney-GeneralI am not responsible for any such bodies.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10175]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe departments and agencies for which I am responsible are not large users of external consultants. A number of recommendations in the report related to other named Departments. Of those of general application, some were already established working practices in my departments and agencies. Measures taken to implement the remaining recommendations include the introduction of a new internal guidance manual by the Crown Prosecution Service, and arrangements under which departments submit to me plans showing the expected use of external consultants and obtain my approval for proposals involving expenditure of more than £50,000.