Tuesday Topic 6 tackled the thorny issue of budgeting and funding consultations. It recommended that organisations take steps to improve their accounting and monitor value for money. But this isn’t the whole story.

Far more money is spent responding to consultations than organising them.

Consider a consultation issued from a central Government department. It may consist of a written consultation paper outlining various policy options, printed and circulated in hard-copy as well as posted on the appropriate website. It may be accompanied by some Seminars, workshops, a focus group or even a Conference. All together – and excluding the cost of policy-makers deliberating over a period of time, the cost could easily be £50,000.