To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many value for money exercises on the use of (a) management consultants and (b) professional advisers were conducted by his Department in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. (103009)

A review of the engagement and management of consultancies (incorporating both (a) and (b)) was carried out from July to November of 2003. The review examined how value for money in the engagement and management of consultants could be optimised. The Department adopted the findings of the review. This has resulted in a reduction in consultancy costs in each subsequent financial year as follows:

Furthermore in the current financial year an enhanced internal approval process has been implemented for proposed consultancy engagements exceeding £50,000. This enables transparency of decision making, based on sound business case proposals for provision of best value for money in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department’s annual budget is for employing workers on a consultancy basis; and how much of this budget was used in each of the last five years for which records are available. (103031)

DTI does not have a specific annual budget for engaging workers on a consultancy basis. Consultancy requirements reflect specific and changing business needs within the Department. However our spend over the last five financial years has been as follows: