HC Deb 17 December 1997 vol 303 cc185-7W
Mr. MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Northern Ireland Museums Council was consulted on the preparation of the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997. [21133]

Mr. Worthington

Yes.

Mr. MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs have been incurred in advertising for personnel for the Museums Institution for Northern Ireland prior to its being given parliamentary approval. [21131]

Mr. Worthington

No costs have been incurred in respect of personnel solely relating to the new institution. A director has been sought to fill the current vacancies at the Ulster Museum and Ulster Folk and Transport Museum with the intention that this person would in due course become the director of the new institution. Advertisements relating to this appointment have been run on two occasions and cost £26,410 in total.

Advertisements to seek trustees for the Northern Ireland Museums Council and the new body have cost £3,760.

Mr. MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the individuals and organisations that commented on the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997. [21136]

Mr. Worthington

The organisations and individuals who commented were as follows:

  • Museums
  • Ulster Museum (Board of Trustees)
  • Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (Board of Trustees) plus two individual members of staff
  • Ulster-American Folk Park (Board of Trustees)
  • Museums related
  • Northern Ireland Museums' Council
  • Museums' Association
  • Irish Museums' Association
  • Museums and Galleries Commission
  • Irish Professional Conservators' and Restorers' Association
  • Down County Museum
  • District Councils
  • Ards Borough Council
  • Armagh City and District Council.
  • Ballymoney City Council
  • Belfast City Council
  • Craigavon Borough Council
  • Derry City Council
  • Down District Council
  • Magherafelt District Council
  • Newtownabbey Borough Council
  • Strabane District Council
  • Government
  • Virginia Bottomley MP
  • Department of Economic Development
  • Department of the Environment
  • Northern Ireland Audit Office
  • Michael D. Higgins TD
  • Other bodies>
  • SDLP
  • Arts Council of Northern Ireland
  • Sports Council for Northern Ireland
  • Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Royal Ulster Constabulary
  • Association of Local Authorities of Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Community Relations Council
  • Ulster Historical Foundation
  • NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance)
  • William Thompson MP
  • Individuals
  • D. R. M. Weatherup
  • Sir Phillip Foreman
  • Clive Priestly

Mr. Mackay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the advice of the Museums and Galleries Commission was sought(a) before preparation of the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997, (b) during the consultation stage on the draft Order and (c) following the representations received on the draft Order. [21130]

Mr. Worthington

The advice of the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) was sought before the preparation of the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997 and during the consultation stage. After this, further consideration was restricted to the Museums Merger Steering Group which includes representatives of the three museums involved in the merger together with independent representatives one of whom is the NI Commissioner for MGC.

Back to