To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on management consultants since its creation. [93678]

The information requested, which represents the cost of bought-in services for the Department and its agencies, is as follows:2001–02: £45 million2002–03: £24 million (estimate)The reduction from 2001–02 to 2002–03 is mainly a consequence of the reduction in expenditure associated with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.