Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Denis MacShane Excerpts
Wednesday 24th November 2010

(13 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Denis MacShane Portrait Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab)
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I welcome the Minister’s statement on a reduction in consultancy fees, but hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is still being spent with these firms. Why does he not simply say no and get civil servants to do their jobs?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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I am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman’s robust support for this Government’s change in direction from that taken by the Government of whom he was a member. We believe that the incontinent use of consultants is demeaning for civil servants, who would, in many cases, like to be doing this work and are very capable of doing it. [Interruption.]