Responding to announcements on Government spending on consultancy by Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, in her speech at the Labour Party Conference, Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) said:
“The MCA and its member firms entirely agree with the Shadow Chancellor’s statement that consultants must always provide value for money when advising Government. Our sector will remain committed to playing its part in improving front line public services with which ever government is in power and ensuring the highest standards of client service and value for money are delivered.
“External consultants play a crucial role providing specialist advice and expertise to Government working in partnership to deliver greater efficiency, innovation, and value for money in public services. Recent examples of this work include working with public sector clients to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine, cut the backlog in breast cancer screening, and help Government tackle ever developing threats in cybersecurity.
“The MCA was pleased that Government recognised the valuable role played by management consultancies in advising on the delivery of high-quality public services in the Consultancy Playbook, and the MCA has worked constructively with the Cabinet Office to ensure its guidance on the commissioning of consultancy work and objective-based projects is implemented.”