Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many employees of McKinsey are working on his Department's spending review; for how long those employees have been so engaged; what remit those staff have been given; what the cost to the public purse is of such staff; and if he will list which organisations and individuals his Department has consulted during that spending review.

There are four pieces of work where McKinsey have been providing assistance to the Department:

• operating costs across the Department and Partner Organisations;
• the cost of goods and services procured from third parties, led by the Crown Commercial Service;
• a review of the Student Loans Company; and
• cost drivers in Further Education, jointly with the Department for Education and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

There are no McKinsey employees working directly on the Department’s Spending Review.

The Department has consulted with our key Partner Organisations during the Spending Review process and Her Majesty’s Treasury have undertaken a public consultation on the Spending Review which closed on 4^th September.