Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to a National Audit Office (NAO) report on consultants and temporary staff, said:

“Spending on consultants and temporary staff is rising at an alarming rate and the Government has to get a grip on costs.

“Government departments shouldn’t pay above the market rate for staff but this report makes it clear they are still far too reliant on expensive temporary workers.

“Consultants can do valuable work but Cabinet Office rules on how they should be paid are being broken, departments are failing to get the best price and the taxpayer is losing out as a result.

“The Government is failing on its own terms.”