I refer the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath to the answer the former Minister for Higher and Further Education gave on 1 July 2022 to Question 22552<\/a>, which provides a total of expenditure of consultants in the last five years.<\/p> The information supporting questions (a) and (c) is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> The information supporting question (b) is only available in part. Within the time and value for money considerations applicable, it has been possible to provide an analysis of the 2021/22 financial year expenditure, by supplier. This analysis can be found in the attached table. Information relating to financial years prior to 2021/22 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> The department adheres to government/public procurement regulations, uses Crown Commercial frameworks where available and ensures best value for procurements. In addition, if the requirements exceed £20,000 or three-months duration, they are subject to Cabinet Office spend controls.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491387/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "42240_Department_For_Education_2021-22_Consultancy_Expenditure_By_Supplier.pdf"}
, "title" : "Consultancy Expenditure by Supplier"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-05T08:46:55.977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Education: Consultants"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if he will publish a breakdown of (a) the amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) the name of each consultancy contracted, (c) the specific matters on which they were consulted and (d) whether each contract was subject to usual Government procurement rules.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4782", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Neale Hanvey"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Neale Hanvey"}
], "uin" : "42240"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491431", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491431/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " An assessment of the potential equalities impacts of the removal of funding for qualifications, which includes some BTEC qualifications, was carried out as part of the qualifications review.<\/p> The department expects all students to benefit from a more rigorous qualification system, with higher quality qualifications that better equip students with the necessary skills for progression into employment or further study. Students from black and other minority backgrounds are not expected to be disproportionately impacted by the removal of funding.<\/p> The department will continue to produce assessments of potential equalities impacts.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4490", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Morley and Outwood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Jenkyns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-06T08:21:44.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "BTEC Qualifications: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding for BTEC courses on (a) Black students and (b) racial equality.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"}
], "uin" : "42143"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491449", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491449/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The department does not separate the costs of agency workers, contingent labour, or any associated agency retainer fees in our accounts. A breakdown could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> The cost of contingent labour (including agency workers) is published in the Department\u2019s Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports<\/a>. Figures for the 2021/22 financial year are included, although the audit is still ongoing and this value may be subject to change.<\/p> The figures below cover the entirety of the Departmental Group, including Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies, for the years specified:<\/p>