Consultants' billions

The PCS civil service union last month accused the government of giving management consultants a licence to print money. Its comments came in response to a Public Accounts Committee report indicating that £1.8 billion had been spent last year by central government on consultants.

Mark Serwortka, general secretary said the Revenue and Customs sought to save £105 million by cutting staff but then spent £106 million on consultants "who often do the same work as civil servants". He added: "The government needs to recognise the skills and knowledge it has in house and start cutting management consultants, not hardworking experienced civil servants."