§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on promotional events will be funded. [18073]
§ Mr. MossDuring the year 1995–96, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has undertaken the lead role in funding work promoting the image of Northern Ireland, including certain events geared to that objective. Recently, the Department has concluded that the legislation under which this policy was hitherto considered to give vires to work implemented does not in fact support funding for every element of the programme, and hence some expenditure has been incurred without legislative cover. Parliamentary approval for the extra-statutory elements of the programme is being sought in a supplementary estimate for the environmental and other services vote (Department of the Environment, vote 4). Pending that approval, urgently needed expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the civil contingencies fund. As I wish this valuable work to continue, I am reviewing arrangements for implementing the programme and also examining the possibility of seeking Parliament's approval of new legislation which would specifically authorise such expenditure.