Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government Departments: Communication and Consultants, whether her Department holds data on the (a) Department and (b) programme reductions to consultancy spending that is expected to reduce spending by (i) £550 million in 2024-25 and (ii) £680 million in 2025-26.

Consultancy spending data for the current 24-25 financial year is held centrally on the cross-government financial system. In-year monthly forecast outturn data at this level of detail is not shared publicly due to its security classification and sensitivity.

Final outturn figures for consultancy spending are published annually via Department’s audited Annual Reports and Accounts (ARAs) and via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. Individual departments control their budgets for consultancy spending and determine the ways they will reduce it in line with the aggregate savings target. HM Treasury and Cabinet Office are holding them to account for these reductions.