To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 November 2008, Official Report, columns 47-48WS, on departmental expenditure limit (2008-09), what consultancy work required a transfer of £250,000 to the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; and what consultancy firm or firms carried out this work. (250566)

When PMDU transferred from the Cabinet Office to HMT in 2007, the remit of the unit changed significantly to include development of PSA policy and oversight of the delivery of the 30 key government PSAs. The unit’s budget and staff levels were increased to reflect these two additional responsibilities. The Cabinet Office agreed to make a £250,000 contribution to cover part of the additional staff costs. When the money was transferred to HMT it was recorded as being for consultancy when it should have been recorded as an increase in the staff budget.