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<p>The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.</p><p>Before
the last General Election, including for the entire period while the Hon. Member was
a minister in this very department, there were no effective cross-Governmental controls
on consultancy spend. Nor were spending controls exercised on other areas such as
procurement, advertising and marketing, and IT spend.</p><p>That's all changed and
ministers - supported by Cabinet Office officials - now closely scrutinise what we
spend on consultants and temporary labour. Departments saved over £1billion in 2012-13
(the last year for which we have audited figures) compared to the spending levels
in the final year of the last administration, 2009-10. This helped us save taxpayers
£10 billion in 2012-13 against a 2009-10 baseline.</p><p>We will continue to spend
money on consultants and temporary labour when there is an appropriate business need
to do so. Indeed in some cases engaging temporary labour is more flexible and cheaper
for the taxpayer than taking on new staff. But we are also ensuring that the Civil
Service has the skills needed. Our Capabilities Plan is designed to address long-standing
gaps in four particular areas: digital skills, project management skills, commercial
skills, and the leadership and management of change.</p><p>We publish all spend data
over £25,000 and contracts over £10,000 on Gov.uk and Contracts Finder.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p>
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