Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which consultancies or associated companies were retained to advise on any part of the reforms introduced in the Higher Education and Research Bill; what briefs were provided to those companies; and what fees were agreed.

No consultancies were retained in the preparation of the reforms or to provide advice on the reforms during the passage of the Higher Education and Research Bill. Some consultancy advice has been sought on specific areas to support the implementation of the Bill, including the provision of expert HR advice to support the ministerial appointments and advice on the IT requirements for the new Office for Students. Advice was also commissioned from Deloitte to undertake preliminary organisational design work ahead of the establishment of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).