Written question asked by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 April 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 May 2008. It was answered by Gareth Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 26 June 2008 on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Consumer Direct: Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2008, Official Report, column 251W, on non-departmental public bodies: finance, to the hon. Member for Brent East, what the budgeted operating cost for Consumer Direct is for 2008-09.

Answer: Consumer Direct's allocated budget has now been agreed and will be £16.7 million for 2008-09. The budget for 2006-07 and 2007-08 was £19 million.Consumer Direct is currently expanding its service to handle first tier consumer advice calls in both the energy and postal sectors as of 1 October 2008. The budget stated above does not include a provision for these additional calls. Funding for these calls will be provided in the first instance by BERR and recovered from industry via a licence fee. The details are still being finalised by BERR but there is an undertaking that Consumer Direct's extra costs will be covered.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 478 c462W;478 c464W; 203913
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Finance
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Finance Consumer Direct
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk