Updated 4 May 2012
Constraints on DWP spend and exceptions
In May 2010 the Coalition Government announced measures to constrain spend by all central government departments, agencies and non departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
Specific constraints (“moratoria”) were put in place in five key areas:
- A freeze on all new Information Communications Technology (ICT) spend above £1 million
- A freeze on all new advertising and marketing spend
- A freeze on all new consultancy spend
- Increased control over new property leases and lease extensions
- A freeze on Civil Service recruitment
Processes were also put in place for each of the moratoria to manage the approval of any exceptional spending.
Exceptions to the spending moratoria in DWP
Information Communications Technology (ICT) exceptions
Any new ICT contracts with a value greater than £1 million must be approved by the cross-government Efficiency and Reform Group in advance.
- Approved ICT exceptions – April 2012 to June 2012 (4KB) CSV file
- Approved ICT exceptions – November 2010 to September 2011 (9KB) CSV file
- Approved ICT exceptions – 24 May to 31 October 2010 (719KB) CSV file
Marketing and Advertising exceptions
Any marketing or advertising activity over £25,000 must be approved by the cross-government Efficiency and Reform Group in advance. Any activity with a budget of less than £25,000 must be approved by DWP’s Director of Communications.
- Approved Marketing and Advertising exceptions – April 2012 to June 2012 (4KB) CSV file
- Approved Marketing and Advertising exceptions – November 2010 to September 2011 (4KB) CSV file
- Approved marketing and advertising exceptions – 24 May to 31 October 2010 (1.0MB) CSV file
Consultancy exceptions
All new consultancy contracts with a value greater than £20,000 (including extensions that take the cumulative contract value over this limit) must be approved by the Permanent Secretary and the relevant Minister in advance.
- Approved consultancy exceptions – July 2012 to December 2012 (8KB) CSV file
- Approved consultancy exceptions – April 2012 to June 2012 (4KB) CSV file
- Approved consultancy exceptions – November 2010 to September 2011 (3KB) CSV file
- Approved consultancy exceptions – 24 May to 31 October 2010 (222KB) CSV file
Property exceptions
A new acquisition with a property lease must be approved by the cross-government Efficiency and Reform Group, via the Government Property Unit, in advance. However, where an existing lease is extended through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) approval is not required, as the financial commitment and associated risk falls to the PFI supplier, as agreed with the Government Property Unit.
DWP has no approved property exceptions requiring publication for the period 24 May-31 October 2010.
- Approved property exceptions – April 2012 to June 2012 (4KB) CSV file
- Approved property exceptions – November 2010 to September 2011 (9KB) CSV file
Recruitment exceptions
Any external recruitment to frontline or business critical posts must be approved in advance by the Secretary of State. This authority can be delegated to the Permanent Secretary and Chief Executives.
- Approved recruitment exceptions – April 2012 to June 2012 (4KB) CSV file
For further information and data see the Workforce Management section of the site.
