To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the operating costs of (a) the National Consumer Council, (b) Energywatch, (c) Postwatch and (d) Consumer Direct were in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07. (185758)

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the forecast outturn operating cost of (a) the National Consumer Council, (b) Energywatch, (c) Postwatch and (d) Consumer Direct is for 2007-08. (185759)

The information is as follows:

Forecast outturn operating costs for 2007-08 for:

(a) National Consumer Council:

£3.5 million.

(b) Energywatch:

The expected forecast for Energywatch's operational costs for 2007-08 is £10.783 million.

(c) Postwatch:

£9 million.

(d) Consumer Direct:

The OFT are in the process of reforecasting the outturn costs of Consumer Direct at the moment and they estimate the operational costs for 2007-08 will be £18.875 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the budgeted operating cost is for (a) the National Consumer Council and (b) Consumer Direct in 2009-10. (185761)

The information is as follows:

Budgeted operating cost:

(a) National Consumer Council in 2009-10

The National Consumer Council (NCC) will cease to exist with effect from 30 September 2008, when a new consumer body (new NCC) will be established out of consolidating the existing NCC, Postwatch and energywatch. Work on establishing the new body is now underway, including work on compiling detailed indicative costs for 2009-10, which will be considered as part of the 2008 departmental business planning exercise.

(b) Consumer Direct in 2009-10

The budget has not been set. The OFT works on a year by year basis and the figure will not be determined until the next financial year.