governmentspending more on consultants

Whitehall spending on consultants is back on the rise in spite of Government-wide efforts to crack down on costs in the face of record deficit levels.

Although the bill for outside help has fallen by almost a third since curbs were introduced following a damning watchdog report in 2006, an analysis by the Press Association newsagency has found totals are starting to creep up again.

At least seven Government departments increased the amount they spent on consultants during 2008-09, while the overall figure rose by 22.6m compared with the previous year.

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The true figure is likely to be even higher as two departments have yet to declare their consultancy costs, leading to accusations that ministers have “lost control” of spending.

The total bill so far for 19 Government departments is 873,645,197 in 2008-09, up 22,651,872 from the previous year. Department of Energy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs are yet to make public their spending.