How much public money is spent on consultants

Dear Diana

Thank you for your freedom of information request dated 4 July 2009 seeking details of how much is spent by NSG on external consultants bought in for a fixed term and the rationale behind such expenditure.

I am dealing with your enquiry under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will ensure you receive a response as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely

Christopher Mallett
Librarian
National School of Government
Sunningdale Park
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 0QE
tel: +44 (0)1344 634286
fax: +44 (0)1344 634118
email: [email address]

show quoted sections

Dear Diana

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request seeking details of how
much the National School of Government spends on external consultants
bought in for a fixed term and the rationale behind such expenditure.

Figures for consultancy spend by NSG since its creation in June 2005 are
as follows:

2005/06 -L-475,920
2006/07 -L-1,400,533
2007/08 -L-1,046,123
2008/09 -L-1,393,118
2009/10
to date -L-77,332
Total -L-4,393,026

NSG uses consultants for two main reasons:

1. To provide expertise to tackle internal organisational issues.

By its very nature, NSG has access to considerable internal expertise
across a range of disciplines. Where possible, this expertise is deployed
to tackle such issues instead of employing external consultants. External
consultants are used when we do not have the relevant internal resources
or when our in-house expertise is not available owing to other
commitments; typically because they are engaged in delivering learning and
development programmes or consultancy projects.

2. To provide expertise to our external customers.

NSG sells learning and development programmes and consultancy on a
full-cost recovery basis. We use internal expertise where this is
available but expect to buy in external consultancy support to provide
expertise in certain areas or to provide cover when internal resources are
already fully utilised.

If you have any questions relating to this email, please don't hesitate to
contact me.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision
you should write to:

Christopher Clark

Head of Communications and Marketing

National School of Government

Sunningdale Park

Larch Avenue

Ascot

Berkshire

SL5 0QE

tel. 01344 634145

email: [email address]

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
Information Commissioner's Office cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the National School of
Government.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Christopher Mallett

Librarian

National School of Government

Sunningdale Park

Ascot

Berkshire

SL5 0QE

tel: +44 (0)1344 634286

fax: +44 (0)1344 634118

email: [email address]

show quoted sections