§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they increased the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's annual grant of £750,000 in 2001–02 by £352,000; what is the purpose of this extra money; and whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be subjected to financial accountability, by whom and when. [HL1279]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Secretary of State for Northern Ireland received from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission a bid for extra funding to support the commission's extensive consultation on the scope of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. In response to this bid, the Secretary of State made available a further £357,200 in August this year.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, like all other non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), is subject to strict financial scrutiny. Its statement of accounts is prepared as directed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with the consent of the Treasury, in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph 7(2)(a) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Brice Dickson, as NDPB accounting officer, is responsible for ensuring that all regulations pertaining to accounts contained in paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 are complied with. This includes sending copies of the commission's statement of accounts to the Secretary of State and the Comptroller and Auditor General for examination at the end of the financial year.