Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of spending on external consultants by (a) HMRC, (b) the National Infrastructure Commission and (b) the UK Debt Management Office in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022; and whether any of that spending related to the preparation of funding bids to his Department.

In line with the Cabinet Office’s control framework for consultancy, external advisers provide HMRC, the National Infrastructure Commission and the UK Debt Management Office with specialist expertise to help with delivering strategic objectives and major programmes through consultancy contracting frameworks where necessary.

a) HMRC

The information requested is published in the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK at the links below:

• HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2019 to 2020
• HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021
• HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022

b) The National Infrastructure Commission

The information requested is published within the ‘Other expenditure’ line within the Statements of Comprehensive Net Expenditure at the links below:

• NIC Annual Report and Accounts 2019 to 2020
• NIC Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021
• NIC Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022

c) The UK Debt Management Office

The information requested is published in the Debt Management Office Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK at the links below:

• DMO Annual Report and Accounts 2019 to 2020
• DMO Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021
• DMO Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022

None of the spending on consultancy by HMRC, the National Infrastructure Commission or the UK Debt Management Office related to the preparation of funding bids to HM Treasury.