HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1157-8W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in(a) 2002–03 and (b) the last six months. [139245]

Mr. Lammy

The Department's net expenditure with external consultants in the financial year dated 2002–03 was £5.7 million.

My Department only collects information on consultancy expenditure on an annual basis at the end of the financial year, so figures for the current year are not yet available.