13
Accepted
The Cabinet Office told us that government is checking and validating the data it receives...
Conclusion
The Cabinet Office told us that government is checking and validating the data it receives from departments. This includes HM Treasury working with departments to ensure the data reflects actual consultancy spend.31 The Cabinet Office stated that the data indicates that it is on track to meet the spending reduction targets. The Cabinet Office is confident in its data, but said it would prefer receiving external audit.32 In written evidence provided after the session, the Cabinet Office said that government has met the savings target of £550 million in 2024–25. The Cabinet Office, together with HM Treasury, have concluded this based on forecasts on OSCAR and Departments’ Spending Review returns.33
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's findings and has commissioned departments to report spending data for their top ten suppliers across consultancy, contingent labour, and professional services, to ensure comprehensive and useful data collection by Summer 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2026 1.2 The Cabinet Office has commissioned departments for spending data on their top ten suppliers across three categories: consultancy, contingent labour, and professional services. If a supplier is identified as a top ten supplier in any one of these categories, all other spending with that same supplier in the remaining two categories must also be reported, even if that spending would not otherwise place the supplier in the top ten for those other categories. 1.3 This is a proportional approach to meeting the Committee’s recommendation and ensures that data provided is useful and allows the Committee to see spending with the biggest suppliers and any overlap between the categories.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
71st Report - Government’s use of external consultants
11 Mar 2026
HC 1521
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.4 yrs
Report published
11 Mar 2026