HL Deb 13 November 2003 vol 654 cc209-10WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each year since 2000, how much funding the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was allocated; what was the underspend each year; and what were the reasons for any underspend. HL5242]

Baroness Amos

The budget allocation for 2000–01 was £72,047,000. Actual expenditure incurred during the year was £70,289,000, an underspend of £1,758,000. The major variances were in respect of:

  1. (1) Difficulties and delays in recruitment of staff.
  2. (2) Slippage on various consultancy and other direct expenditure.
  3. (3) Slippage on inland waterways work programmes.
  4. (4) The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001 resulted in the closing of the public angling estate, therefore reducing spend on bailiffing and maintenance.

The budget allocation for 2001–02 was £89,583,000. Actual expenditure incurred during the year was £79,431,000, an underspend of £10,152,000. The major variances were in respect of:

  1. (1) Total resources allocated in 2001–02 for regrading of library staff to be phased over the financial years 2001–02 and 2002-03. In addition there was slippage on the library capital programme.
  2. (2) Delays in disbursement of the executive programme funds.
  3. (3) Slippage in recruitment for the North/South Language Body and Waterways Ireland.
  4. (4) Slippage in cultural diversity programme including the Golden Jubilee, included with central administration and miscellaneous services.

The budget allocation for 2002–03 was £98,729,000. Actual expenditure incurred during the year was £93,081,000, an underspend of £5,648,000. The major variances were in respect of:

  1. (1) Slippage on central administration costs due to slippage in staff recruitment.
  2. (2) Slippage on library capital projects.
  3. (3) Underspend on museums due to closure of Navan Fort and slippage on MAGNI review.
  4. (4) Slippage on W5 Odyssey Product Renewal Fund and capital expenditure.
  5. (5) Slippage in Cultural Diversity Programme including Thanksgiving Square, Duncrun Initiative, Football in the Community and Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland projects.
  6. (6) Slippage on Waterways Ireland recruitment of staff programme and capital expenditure on headquarters building.
  7. (7) Reduction in non-cash items due to overestimate of OSNI early retirement provision plus lower than projected depreciation and cost of capital charges due to disposals. Also notional costs were less than projected.
  8. (8) Delays on executive programme funds including creativity seed fund, salmon net compensation scheme, libraries ELFNI project and PRONI freedom of information project.