HC Deb 25 March 2003 vol 402 cc195-6W
Dr. Evan Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on(a) external advisers and (b) consultants by his Department in each year since 1996–97. [103815]

Mr. Lammy

Expenditure by the Department for each year from 1996–97 is shown in the table.

Expenditure
£ million
1996–97 14.699
1997–98 12.694
1998–99 7.332
1999–2000 8.132
2000–01 6.531
2001–02 6.8

The Department's accounting systems do not distinguish between consultants and external advisers and the provision of a separate analysis could be secured only at disproportionate cost.