To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget is for Ofcom's regulatory activities in each of the next three financial years. (232698)

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industry, and sets its budget on an annual basis, and publishes this on 31 March of every year. I am therefore unable to provide the budget figures requested for 2009-10 and 2010-11. Ofcom's budget for 2008-09 will be £133.7 million, 1.5 per cent. lower in real terms than its budget for 2007-08 and 17.5 per cent. lower in real terms than Ofcom's original full-year budget set in 2004-05.

A four year funding settlement was set with HM Treasury on 24 February 2007 and for 2009-10 and 2010-11—it is £142 million and £143 million respectively. Ofcom must operate within this settlement.