Regulators

HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 cc40-1W

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual total cost of each of the regulators of the privatised utilities. [21838]

Sir George Young

The provision for 1994–95 and 1995–96 for the offices of the privatised utilities are as follows:

	£ thousands
	1994–95	1995–96
Office of Telecommunications	9,358	9,464
Office of Gas Supply	4,524	5,352
Office of Electricity Regulation	10,871	10,567
Office of Water Services	9,544	8,146

Source:

Supply Estimates 1995–96, HM Treasury, March 1995.

The cost of funding the offices of the regulators is fully recovered by licence fees paid by the regulated companies. Income from fees is surrendered to the consolidated fund. There is no net cost to the taxpayer.