To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid in consultancy fees by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. (171996)

Historical figures are not available for the Department for Children, Schools and Families and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Figures for the Department for Education and Skills show that it spent £66.6 million on consultancy from 2005-06 to 2006-07. This figure comprises £7.6 million charged to administration budgets; and £59 million charged to programme budgets.

Figures for the Department for Education and Skills show that the following costs of consultancy were charged to administration budgets from 1997:

The costs of consultancy charged to programme budgets before November 2004 were not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The total cost of consultancy charged to programme budgets from November to March 2004-05 was £4.4 million, and from April 2005 to March 2007 was £59 million.