§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the promotion and development of Parliament Buildings and the Stormont Estate as a public amenity and visitor attraction will be funded. [27081]
§ Marjorie MowlamThe Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is responsible for the management of the Stormont Estate under the Stormont Regulation and Government Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1933. The legislation does not, however, empower the Department to incur expenditure
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List of delegations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 Delegation Nature of delegation Recipients Main conditions 1. Pay and Grading Authority to determine pay and grading arrangements, shift disturbance and night duty allowances and other allowances in the nature of pay for Northern Ireland civil servants below the senior open structure. The Permanent Head of NIO in respect of that department and also for the following organisations: The Police Authority for Northern Ireland The Compensation Agency The Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Prison Service Agency. The recipient must ensure that any changes (i) comply with the NICS Equal Opportunity Policy; (ii) provide value for money; (iii) do not jeopardise essential public expenditure safeguards. 2. Pay and Grading Authority to determine pay and grading of Northern Ireland civil servants below the senior open structure based in Next Steps Agencies. Permanent Heads of NI departments responsible for the following organisations: Child Support Agency Health Estates Agency Social Security Agency Industrial Research and Technology Unit Training and Employment Agency Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency Ordnance Survey NI Public Record Office (NI) Rate Collection Agency Environment and Heritage Service Land Registers of Northern Ireland Planning Service Roads Service Water Service Construction Service Valuation and Lands Agency Business Development Service NI Statistics and Research Agency Government Purchasing Service. The recipient must ensure that any changes (i) comply with the NICS Equal Opportunity Policy; (ii) provide value for money; (iii) do not jeopardise essential public expenditure safeguards. on the development of the Estate for the benefit of the community through exhibitions and competitions, indoor and outdoor concerns and the creation of recreational educational and visitor amenities.
Parliament's approval for expenditure on such matters in the current financial year will be south in a Supplementary Estimate for the Environment and other services Vote (Department of the Environment Vote 4). Pending that approval expenditure up to £150,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Civil Contingencies Fund.
I am also examining the possibility of seeking Parliament's approval for new legislation which would specifically authorise such expenditure.