Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if he will publish a breakdown of (a) the amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) the name of each consultancy contracted, (c) the specific matters on which they were consulted and (d) whether each contract was subject to usual Government procurement rules.

Figures for consultancy spend are included each year in the Department's annual report. Details of contracts awarded valued at £10,000 (inc VAT) or more are published on https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder. Information on our spending, including consultancy, is published regularly as part of our Transparency information https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dluhc-spending-over-250-march-2022

Consultancy contracts are procured in line with Government procurement rules and are also subject to internal and Cabinet Office assurance through the spending controls process.