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| Advice is costing government £42m | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The amount spent by the government in Northern Ireland on external consultants has more than doubled over the last five years. | The amount spent by the government in Northern Ireland on external consultants has more than doubled over the last five years. |
| According to a report published by the Public Accounts Committee, the cost of taking professional advice from the private sector totalled £42m in 2007. | |
| Government departments hire consultants for advice on a range of subjects from finance to the environment. | Government departments hire consultants for advice on a range of subjects from finance to the environment. |
| The Stormont PAC report said this spending is not always well managed. | The Stormont PAC report said this spending is not always well managed. |
| It also found that best practice guidelines are not always followed. | It also found that best practice guidelines are not always followed. |
| The report said civil servants were in danger of becoming dependant on consultants and do not appear to be building an efficient and well skilled civil service. | The report said civil servants were in danger of becoming dependant on consultants and do not appear to be building an efficient and well skilled civil service. |
| The PAC report said that private sector consultants are increasingly designing and managing public services. | The PAC report said that private sector consultants are increasingly designing and managing public services. |
| The committee said that departments must ensure spending is justified. | The committee said that departments must ensure spending is justified. |
| The Institute of Business Consultants said it believed its members are delivering value for money, but pointed out that this is not always the same as the cheapest price for the job. | The Institute of Business Consultants said it believed its members are delivering value for money, but pointed out that this is not always the same as the cheapest price for the job. |