Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-2025, HC1372, 23 October 2025, page 101, and the Contingent Labour Spend Control and the Consultancy and Professional Services Spend Control, both updated on 1 February 2023, for what reason 250 off-payroll engagements recorded as existing for four or more years at 31 March 2025 were classified as temporary appointments.

All off payroll engagements are classified as temporary staff as they are not employees of the department and are not paid through the payroll.

Of the 250 staff quoted, 241 of them are either Infrastructure and Projects Authority gateway reviewers or Government Commercial Function accreditor assessors.

These ‘engagements’ form a pool of specialist reviewers and assessors who are called upon as and when required. Having a pool of reviewers and assessors allows the departments to respond flexibly to demand.

Of the 241 reviewers and assessors, 46 were not called upon at all during 2024-25 and therefore had £0 spend against their name. Some others had minimal spend during 2024-25. They are retained on our books as temporary staff in case their specialist knowledge is required.