Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2024, to Question 2636, on NHS England: Communication and Management Consultants and with reference to the document entitled Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published by HM Treasury on 29 July 2024, whether savings in that document include reducing NHS spending on consultancy and communications.

The document, Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published by HM Treasury, set out the request for departments to identify savings. The Department is exploring options across all budgets within its remit to identify savings to contribute to pressures revealed in the audit document. This includes, but is not exclusive to, taking action to reduce non-essential consultancy and communications spending.