Recommendation 17

However, the Playbook was last updated in 2022 and contains many references to the Government Consulting Hub (GCH), including its Knowledge Exchange platform, despite this hub no longer existing. We asked why the Consultancy Playbook has not yet been reissued despite it being outdated. The Chief Commercial Officer explained that the GCF is in the process of updating the Playbook and that the revised Playbook will be reissued by the summer of 2026.37 We also asked how the Cabinet Office will ensure departmental compliance with the Playbook. The Chief Commercial Officer stated that contracts up to £100,000 require formal governance 36 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.14, 1.19 and 1.21 37 Qq 44, 46 12 and sign-off by the accounting officer, while those over £600,000 need Ministerial approval. The Cabinet Office said that the Consultancy Playbook should be seen as the standard for defining requirements, going to market and contracting, and CCS should be the default route. The Cabinet Office also explained that spend on consultants is managed through each department’s commercial director, and the Cabinet Office monitors progress against departmental targets regularly through the commercial function.38