Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2.54 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans 2025, if he will make an estimate of the annual cost of contingent labour costs for digital services.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is implementing a strategy to reduce reliance on contingent labour in digital services. As set out in the Department's internal planning, the annual cost of contingent labour identified for insourcing is estimated at £17.6 million. This forms part of a wider programme to rebalance the workforce and invest in permanent digital, data and cyber capability. The Department is transitioning funding from non-pay to pay to support this shift, with a projected increase in civil servant roles and a corresponding reduction in contingent labour. This approach aligns with the Government's strategic direction to improve efficiency and resilience in digital delivery.