News Article - 18 December 2006
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The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is urging the government to state its case for using consultants on the back of National Audit Office (NAO) findings that departments could save £540 million through correct implementation.

While the work of consultants may be in demand, there should be a strong business case for using them, according to CBI director of public services Dr Neil Bentley.

"Consultants offer expertise and experience often not found in the public sector, but government departments need to make a clear business case for using them if the taxpayer is to get value for money."

He added that as illustrated by the NAO, this is not always the case. Some civil servants lack specialist skills because of the "cult of the generalist" and they do not ensure the correctly use various external support mechanisms available to them, he said.

Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Vince Cable said that the NAO report confirmed the "reckless" use of consultants by government departments and questioned how ministers could justify spending five times the amount per employee on consulting than businesses in the private sector.

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