§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon Member for Warley, East on 10 March, Official Report c. 499, he will elucidate the changed method of providing funds for purchases by the Ulster museum which has been operative during 1980–81 to 1982–83 inclusive; what sums have been devoted to expenditure on purchases during each of those years; what sums were devoted to expenditure on general expenses, including salaries, during each of those years; if, under the system which has operated for those three years, fixed sums or purchases are in practice earmarked at the beginning of the financial year; and if there is any liability to surrender any unexpended balances to the consolidated fund.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 21 March 1983, c. 301]: No specific purchase grant was made to the Ulster museum for 1980–81 to 1982–83 but the museum used its accumulated reserves in its specimen purchase fund to make purchases as follows:
Year £000s 1980–81 58 1981–82 56 *1982–83 90 * Estimate. Expenditure on general expenses, including salaries over the same period was:
Year £m 1980–81 1.5 1981–82 1.6 * 1982–83 1.7 * Estimate. Unexpended balances on current expenditure on general expenses are liable to surrender.