Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to page 99 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, what the reasons are for the change in spending on professional services between 2012-13 and 2013-14 for (a) the core department and (b) the departmental group.

The purpose and function of spending categorised under professional services includes principally outsourced programme management, project management, financial advice, legal services and economic consultancy and research.

The level of spending on professional services varies from time to time according to business needs and the stage of the major programmes and projects which the department and its non-departmental public bodies are delivering.