To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the successor to Postwatch will work effectively at a regional level. (129620)

[holding answer 27 March 2007]: The Department is working very closely with Postwatch, Energywatch, and the National Consumer Council to ensure that the practical implementation of the measures in the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill meet the detailed requirements of the different sectors. Serious consideration of how best to provide for a regional dimension for the way the new National Consumer Council represents consumer views is part of that ongoing work.