To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what contingency preparations his Department made for the possibility of a general election in autumn 2007; and what the costs were of those preparations. (166894)

Officials keep under review, and update, the stock of corporate briefing. No additional briefing was prepared in respect of any prospect of a general election in the autumn. We have not been able to identify any costs incurred in relation to any preparations and do not believe that any were incurred.