HL Deb 03 June 2003 vol 648 cc138-40WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the exchange of notes with the Government of the Republic of Ireland (Treaty Series No 54 (2002 19 November 2002) allows changes of policy by the implementation bodies such as that caused by a reduction of a body's budget.[HL2582]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

The exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002 provides for decisions on policies and actions relating to the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited or their respective functions to be taken by the two Governments.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who set the proportionality funding between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic for the Cross-Border Implementation Service; and on what basis.[HL2661]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

The proportionality of funding between the UK Government and the Irish Government for each of the North/South implementation bodies is determined on the basis of the assessed benefit to each jurisdiction from their activities. For calendar years 2000, 2001 and 2002 the proportionality was agreed by the Finance Ministers North and South and approved by the North/South Ministerial Council in the context of the annual budget cycle. The proportionality of funding for 2003 was agreed by the Finance Ministers North and South and approved by the British and Irish Governments under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the two Governments dated 19 November 2002.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 30 April (WA 102) concerning set-up costs for cross-border bodies, what are the details of the furnishings and fittings costs for the special European Union Programmes.[HL2716]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

The breakdown of the details of the furnishings and fittings costs for the set up of the Special European Union Programmes Body were as follows:

Furnishings1 Amount (£)2
Belfast Office 11,200.27
Omagh Office 4,096.69
Monaghan Office 14,512.92
Fittings
Safe 1,770.47
Air Conditioning 276.23
Artwork 1,413.97
Total 33,270.55
1 Furnishings comprise desks, chairs, tables and other office furniture.
2 Figures relate to expenditure during the first year of operation (2000).

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is meant in the joint statement issued in conjunction with the Irish Government on 18 December 2002 by "care and maintenance" in relation to cross-Border bodies.[HL2736]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

As indicated in the statement of clarification on 18 December 2002, the British and Irish Governments intend, under the agreement contained in the exchange of notes of 19 November 2002, to take only those decisions required to ensure proper care and maintenance of the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland in the performance of their necessary public functions. As the statement set out, the two Governments intend only to pursue the policies and actions already agreed in the North/South Ministerial Council and not to introduce any new policies.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 April (HL2098) concerning budgets for Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, why are sterling pounds referred to as GBPs and not UKPs. [HL2767]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

GBP is the standard international currency code for pounds sterling, as determined by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the worldwide federation of standardisation bodies. The codes are referred to as the ISO 4217 standard and are in general usage worldwide. The maintenance agency for ISO 4217 is the British Standards Institution.