§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in each of the last four years. [35015]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe average total cost to the Department of external consultations for the last four financial years was £27.85 million. This compares with an average of £41.65 million for the four years prior to that (1993–94 to 1996–97).
The information requested is set out for each of the last four financial years in the table:
Cost at April 2002 prices £million 2000–01 32.3 1999–2000 28.9 1998–99 27.5 1997–98 21.9 Figures relate to contracts awarded by the ex-Department of Social Security. Costs for the Department for Work and Pensions for the current financial year are not yet available.
Figures shown included costs for management consultants and IT consultants but exclude costs for contractors and professional services (accountancy, legal advice, etc.).