Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to his Department's transparency data entitled DExEU spend over £25,000, October 2018, for what services his Department paid the Boston Consulting Group £720,000 on 2 October.

The Government is utilising the skills of the brightest and best across the Civil Service as we prepare to exit the EU. The Boston Consulting Group is providing strategic analytical support, working with DExEU and other Government departments to accelerate progress on cross-cutting complex policy and delivery issues. It is quite standard for a Government department to draw on the advice of external specialists. We will continue to bring in expertise from outside as appropriate. This contract was awarded using a standard route to market widely used across the Civil Service.