§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the grant proposed for the Ulster museum for the year 1983–84; and whether any portion of that sum has been earmarked for purchases;
(2) whether he has any plans for the Ulster museum to revert to the method of financing in force in other national museums in the United Kingdom, which was operative in the case of the Ulster museum until the year 1979–80, namely (a) one grant covering general expenses, including salaries, the unexpended balances of which are liable to surrender and (b) a separate grant covering purchases, the unexpended balances of which are not liable to surrender; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Warley, East on 22 March, Official Report, c. 400, when he expects to be able to give the actual, as distinct from estimated, figures for the expenditure of the Ulster museum on (a) purchases and (b) general expenses, respectively, during the year 1982–83;
(4) whether he will list the total sums expended on purchases by the Ulster museum during each of the years 1973–74 to the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Scott[pursusant to his reply, 11 April 1983, c. 347]: The grant proposed for the Ulster museum for recurrent expenditure for 1983–84 is £1,820,000, of which no portion has yet been earmarked for purchases.
The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) is discussing the proposed total resources for 1983–84 with the trustees. If they indicate that they wish to divide the total between current expenditure and a purchase grant, I will take the necessary steps to amend the Vote.
A statement of accounts of actual expenditure of the Ulster museum on purchases and general expenses for 1982–83 will be available in July 1983.
From 1973–74 to 1981–82 the Ulster museum spent the following sums on purchases:
Year £000 1973–74 69 1974–75 31 1975–76 88 1976–77 110 1977–78 48 1978–79 50 1979–80 85 1980–81 58 1981–82 56