§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 May (WA 2) which indicated that the Irish Government could not set the budgets which include contributions by the United Kingdom Government, how this Answer is consistent with the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 May (WA 1) which indicated that the Irish Government set the North/South Language Body's budget on 12 November 2002 and announced it in the Irish Parliament on 3 December when the United Kingdom Government only agreed the budget on 26 February 2003. [HL2858]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The Written Answer to the noble Lord on 12 May (WA 1) did not indicate that the Irish Government set the North/South Language Body's budget on 12 November 2002; rather it indicated that officials in the Department of Culture, Arts, and Leisure were informed of the Southern contribution to the budget of the Body.
53WAThe Northern Ireland contribution to this budget was announced as part of the overall Northern Ireland budget by the Secretary of State on 11 December 2002.
Under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments dated 19 November 2002, the two governments approved the recommendation for the total budget for the North/ South Language Body on 26 February 2003.