Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's Annual report and accounts 2020-21, HC 808, published on 25 November 2021, for what reasons did the amount spent on consultancy increase from £55.7 million in 2019-20 to £137.3 million in 2020-21.

There are two main reasons for the increase in Department’s consultancy spend:

1) Covid-19 response, including the Vaccines Task Force and the business support measures.

2) Change in approach to identifying consultancy costs disclosed in Department's Annual report and accounts.