To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the operational budget is of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment for the 12 months following its establishment. (263393)

[holding answer 16 March 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 6 March 2009, Official Report, column 1887W, regarding the budget for the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED).

The ORED’s budget for 2009-10 is currently subject to the business planning round process in the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of (a) full-time and (b) other staff who will be employed by the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment when it has been fully established. (263394)

[holding answer 16 March 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 6 March 2009, Official Report, column 1887W, regarding the number of staff employed by the Office for Renewable Energy Development (ORED).

The number of staff for ORED will depend on the outcome of the business planning round process in the Department and decisions on the scope and range of activities the ORED will be asked to take forward following publication of the finalised UK Renewable Energy Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) full-time and (b) other staff in his Department are engaged in the establishment of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment. (263395)

[holding answer 16 March 2009]: The Department is involving a number of its staff in the planning for the establishment of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED). This includes a number of staff presently working on renewable energy deployment issues. While I am unable to give precise full time equivalent numbers, the Department is also providing additional resource as necessary to deal with legal, financial, human resources and media issues associated with the establishment of the office.