Government told to cut consultants bill

This £1bn bill is more than double the amount spent on consultants in 2002, according to statistics released by the Management Consultancies Association, The Observer reported.

This warning was issued by Sir Peter Gershon, the man responsible for masterminding Whitehall's efficiency agenda that could see over 100,000 civil servants axed.

Gershon said: 'I am encouraging the Treasury to look carefully at the guidelines on the use of consultants. The Treasury is clearly aware of this significant growth.'