To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on consultants in each of the last two years, broken down by (a) division, (b) area and (c) type of work commissioned. (137900)

During the year 2005-06 HMRC spent a total of £106,000,000 on consultancy requirements across the categories of Business, HR, Legal and IT consultancy. At this time the two former departments (HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue) were mid-transformation and merging systems and procedures. HMRC accounting function for this period does not enable us to identify the division (directorate) who commissioned the work.

Audited figures for 2006-07 are not available.