§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates she has made of the amount spent on external consultants by her Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10166]
§ Mr. Robin SquireInformation in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the actions her Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10167]
§ Mr. SquireOn 23 February 1995, the Employment Department sent the efficiency unit an action plan for implementing all the recommendations of the original report which were relevant to the Department.
The action plan is being implemented. The merger of the Department for Education and the Employment Department afforded an opportunity to review the guidance available on the use of external consultants. New guidance issued since the merger and procurement and contract management guidance, due to be issued by the end of this financial year, takes full account of the recommendations.