§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Energywatch's budget was in each year since it was created, how many calls it received from consumers in each year; and what assessment she has made of Energywatch's ability to help gas and electricity consumers. [168872]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is as follows:
1404W
Expenditure (£ million) complaints Non-Complaint inquiries 2000–01 17.62 277,705 n/a 2001–02 318.99 472,362 106,015 2002–03 511.97 109,230 70,856 2003–04 612.39 72,079 90,000 2004–05 713 29 — — 1 Transitional funding 2 Complaints to OFGEM, Gas Consumers' Council and Energywatch
3 Includes £8.1 million transitional funding 4 Excludes February and March 2002, for which no data are available
5 Includes £0.29 million transitional funding 6 Includes £0.29 million transitional funding 7 Budget. Includes £0.29 million transitional funding Energywatch has significantly aided energy consumers by, among other things, assisting individuals in their dealings with energy companies; promoting the consumer interest as a whole, particularly in areas such as mis-selling, the transfer process and the billing and metering practices of energy companies; and representing the interests of disadvantaged consumers.