Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps to reduce the use of external consultants by the civil service.

The use of consultants provides short term, specialist advisory services for specific engagements. Consultants provide niche skills that are not required full time within the Civil Service.

Every department is responsible for their own use of consultancy with governance, assurance and control over budgets to ensure value for money.