§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the expenditure of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if he will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26633]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The total expenditure on external consultancy by the Ministry of Defence including agencies, for which a separate breakdown is not available, was £150.8 million in financial year 1995–96, and £1136.7 million in financial year 1996–97. Details of this expenditure are placed in the Library of the House around June of each year.
The comparable figures for non-departmental public bodies not included in the Departmental totals have been recalculated and the figures are now assessed to be £77,503 during 1995–96 and £183,109 in 1996–97.
This year's exercise to calculate expenditure on external consultancy within MOD during financial year 1997–98 will be complete by early summer, when I will write to the hon. Member. I will also place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Individual budget holders in the MOD have delegated powers to employ external consultants as they judge necessary, consistent with requirements for propriety and value for money. External consultants are engaged for assistance on a wide range of problems, but very seldom with the sole aim of securing financial savings. We do not, therefore, specifically assess cost savings as a result of the employment of external consultants.