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Private firms are lining up to give free advice to the Tory Brexit Department just months after it was set up.

Labour voiced concern today as it emerged eight separate consultancy firms have given their services to the Whitehall body pro bono, or for a nominal sum like £1.

They include giants PWC, KPMG, Deloitte, McKinsey and Accenture - all of which make money through contracts with the government.

The sheer number of firms has raised concerns about the access and influence private enterprise could have in the department, which is still newly-formed and recruiting for staff.

No individual firm is accused of wrongdoing and the Brexit Department said it makes "no apology" for getting advice from the "best and brightest".

But Tamasin Cave, of the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency pressure group, warned: "These firms don’t ever work for nothing."

(Image: Getty)

She told The Times: "There is always a commercial benefit, whether that’s in future contracts, privileged information, or valuable insider contacts."

Labour Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer added: "Any department will want to engage consultants from time to time, but to have engaged so many in such a short time with no apparent cost raises a number of important questions."

He called on the department to reveal the number of hours worked by each consultant and the subject area they covered.

"Dexeu [Whitehall's code for the Department] should also indicate whether future work has been promised to any of these consultants," he added.

"Given the considerable additional resources allocated to Dexeu in the Autumn statement, there should be maximum transparency about how taxpayers money is being spent."

Sir Keir claimed the inclusion of Deloitte had "particular significance" after the firm was embroiled in a row with No10 about a leaked memo on Brexit.

Deloitte and No10 both downplayed the significance of the note when it leaked last month, saying it was not the firm's or the government's official view.

(Image: BBC)

Today's publication confirms Deloitte nonetheless had access to the Brexit Department, where it has provided "internal financial planning".

Details of the eight firms working for free were confirmed in a written answer by Brexit minister David Jones.

Accenture and Oliver Wyman provided "policy support", Frontier Economics gave "market analysis" and McKinsey gave "organisational design", he said.

KPMG and PWC both helped set up the department and offered "programme management support".

A Brexit Department spokesman said: "As you would expect the Government is utilising the skills of the brightest and best across the Civil Service as we prepare to exit the EU.

"It is also quite standard for a Government department to draw on the advice of external specialists and we make no apology for that.

"We will continue to bring in expertise from outside as appropriate."