§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present valuation of(a) property and (b) exhibits at the Ulster museum, Stranmillis, Belfast, and the Ulster Folk and Transport museum at Cultra.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for employment levels at museums in Northern Ireland of current proposals to privatise services there; if he will defer those proposals; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of the implications of privatising services at museums in Northern Ireland for the security of property and exhibits, with particular reference to the risk of bogus firms with paramilitary connections seeking to tender for contracts; and if he will make a statement;
(3)what is the estimated value of annual savings to be made in public expenditure at (a) the Ulster museum, Stranmillis, and (b) the Ulster Folk and Transport museum, Cultra, from proposals to contract out catering, cleaning and security work.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe assessment of the implications for employment levels, the security of property and exhibits and the value of savings likely to be achieved are an integral part of an exercise which I have asked the trustees to undertake. The intention is that they should evaluate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of contracting-out to competitive tender their cleaning, catering, security and warding services and to submit proposals.