Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's Departmental Resource 2023 statistics published on 30 November 2023, what the difference in categorisation of consultancy work between (a) programme and project management and (b) procurement is.

Ministry of Defence definitions are in accordance with Cabinet Office definitions on Consultancy.

Therefore, Procurement Consultancy is defined as; costs related to advisory services within Procurement including advice and assistance in establishing procurement strategies.

Project Management Consultancy is defined as; costs related to advisory services and assistance with Programme and Project Management including advice and management relating to ongoing programmes, one-off projects, programme wide reporting and programme secretariat.