Government's use of external consultants

The current government’s intention is to halve spending on consultants, with a commitment to producing a strategic workforce plan for the civil service in 2025 that can properly balance the use of civil servants and external resources. The National Audit Office (NAO) in 2025 publishes a lessons learned study for government on its use of … Show more

The current government’s intention is to halve spending on consultants, with a commitment to producing a strategic workforce plan for the civil service in 2025 that can properly balance the use of civil servants and external resources. The National Audit Office (NAO) in 2025 publishes a lessons learned study for government on its use of consultants, laying out the current facts and drawing upon past reports and new research to identify lessons for bodies considering their use. The PAC’s 2016 report found that departments' overall spending on temporary staff had at that time increased by up to 90% since 2011–12, with specialist temporary staff often costing twice as much as permanent staff. The PAC’s 2019 report on Brexit consultancy costs found there had been excessive secrecy over the use of consultants by government, with confusion over how much had actually been spent. Proceeding from the NAO’s 2025 report, the PAC will take evidence from senior government Cabinet Office officials as it scrutinises how government can best use and manage consultants to maximise value for money. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit here by 23:59 on Monday 1 December 2025. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. The Committee decides what information to publish and how. You can request anonymity or confidentiality when you send evidence, but it is for the Committee to say whether it will agree. It may treat submissions confidentially, even where you have not requested this. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues. On 13 November this inquiry’s name was changed from Government use of data analytics and external consultants. The Committee will hold a separate session on Government use of data analytics on error and fraud in early 2026. Show less