HL Deb 13 May 2004 vol 661 cc47-8WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6 April (WA 219) concerning consultants employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, how the consultants listed were selected; by whom; and on what basis. [HL2466]

Baroness Amos

Terms of reference for the business case were drawn up by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). The procurement process was managed on behalf of DCAL by the Department of Finance and Personnel's Central Procurement Directorate using an existing framework arrangement for consultants who were invited to tender. An evaluation panel comprising three representatives of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure evaluated the tenders against the criteria of methodology, price, company and staff experience.

Mr Ó Ríagáin, who was already retained as an adviser to DCAL, was asked to assist on areas relating to the European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages and language planning.