Spending on consultants slammed

LABOUR has criticised the Scottish Government for "out-of-control" spending on consultants.

The bill for consultants' expertise was 126 million over the past three years, according to figures obtained by Glasgow Anniesland MSP Bill Butler.

He said yesterday it was time for the government to "cap the consultants and start delivering for Scotland".

The government's figures show they spent just under 38m on consultants in the past 12 months, less than previous years with 44m spent in 2008-9 and 43m in the previous year.

Rural affairs, environment and services commanded the biggest spend in the financial year 2009-10, followed by education and the justice department.

Consultants are used on a temporary basis for services including legal affairs and IT.

Mr Butler said the figures "add further credence to the view that such spending is out of control".

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Spending on consultants fell by over 15 per cent in 2009-10, as part of our drive to be more efficient, such as introducing a cap on total staff numbers and limits on the use of consultants, managed within tight financial restraints."