§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding is made available to Postwatch from(a) Royal Mail and (b) her Department. [143040]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Consumer Council of Postal Services (CCPS), also known as Postwatch is funded through grant in aid from the Department of Trade and Industry. A three-year budget envelope is agreed between Postwatch and the Department. The cost is recovered by the Exchequer from the licence fees paid by operators of postal services. Details of the Postwatch budget are set out in its Forward Work Programme; the 2004–05 Programme will be published shortly.