Oral Answers to Questions

Graeme Morrice Excerpts

Tuesday 27th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

4. How much the NHS spent on consultancy in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

The amount spent by strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts on consultancy services in the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 was £291 million and £278 million respectively—a 39% fall in expenditure, compared to the last year of the previous Administration.

[Graeme Morrice]

In 2010 the former Secretary of State said he was

“staggered by the scale of the expenditure on management consultants”.

However, in the past year alone foundation trusts have increased their spend on consultancy by 25% and NHS trusts have increased their spend by 13%. Is the new Secretary of State just as staggered?

[Mr Hunt]

With respect to the hon. Gentleman, a 39% fall in consultancy expenditure compared to the last year of the previous Administration is something that we are rather proud of. If he wants to know what the Health Secretary is directly responsible for, direct Department of Health expenditure on consultancy in the past year was £3 million. In the last year of the previous Government it was £108 million.