Inconsistent data prevent departments from understanding which consultants they use, or what skills gaps they repeatedly hire consultants to address. Departmental annual reports use different definitions of what constitutes consultancy spending, which may or may not be based on the Cabinet Office definition of consultancy. Departments also do not always 11 Q 4 12 Q 33 13 C&AG’s Report, para 1.32 14 Q 73 15 Qq 74-75 16 Qq 24-26 8 separate the core department’s spending on consultants from departmental group spending, which includes ALBs, agencies and nondepartmental public bodies.17