The information provided on the use of consultants (a substantial reduction in expenditure on Consultants during the past financial year), the approach to the use of consultants and the system improvements effected to address the shortcoming identified by the OAG in the performance audit conducted on the use of consultants, during the period 2006 - 2009, is encouraging. The Portfolio Committee is of the view that the Department has sufficiently tightened its management of the use of consultants and the performance of consultants. The Portfolio Committee will, however, continue to monitor the use and management of consultants by the Department.