Consultancy spending

Request total spending on external consultants and the firms used.

Public bodies regularly hire external consultants for advice, reviews, and project work. This spending can be substantial and is not always visible in published accounts.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]: 1. The total amount spent on external consultancy services. 2. A list of each consultancy firm used, showing the purpose of the engagement and the amount paid. I would prefer to receive this by email. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Any Scottish public authority. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Specify one financial year to keep the request manageable.
  • If the authority says it would exceed the cost limit, narrow to a specific department or type of consultancy (e.g. management consultancy, IT consultancy, communications).
  • Some authorities publish spending over £25,000. Check their website first to avoid requesting information that is already available.