Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on activities which were contracted out in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14; and how much and what proportion of his Department's budget he expects to be contracted out in 2014-15.

DCLG purchases a wide range of goods and services from outside suppliers. The information requested for the last five years is not centrally held in the form requested and would incur disproportionate cost to provide. However, details of all spending over £250 are available on my Department’s website as part of our transparency data.

I would add that we have recently adopted a shared services model with other departments, with our legal function being undertaken by Treasury Solicitors and our procurement being undertaken by the Crown Commercial Service. There is significant scope for further sharing of services.