To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on external advice on the implementation of the merger of the former Departments for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Innovation, Universities and Skills. (295907)

The Department has not incurred any expense on external advice in implementing the merger of the two Departments. The cost of the merger to date are £160,000, primarily on changes to accommodation and building signage, offset by savings from removing duplication.