Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any (a) external contractors and (b) consultancy companies engaged by her Department have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services since May 2010.

Contingent labour contracts are awarded against tendered fixed day rates. Consultancy contracts are awarded either at fixed day rates by consultant grade or by maximum or capped prices for delivery of a package of work and are not normally subject to change. Such contracts may be extended or varied by means of contract change variations from time to time where contract terms allow and a business need exists which would result in a change to the overall value of the contracted services as a consequence of that change.

To provide information on every contract awarded since May 2010 would incur disproportionate cost.