§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the annual budget of(a) the Trinity House Lighthouse Authority, (b) the Commissioners of the Irish Lights and (c) the Northern Lighthouse Board was in each of the last five years; [141749]
(2) how much was contributed by the central fund to the Northern Lighthouse Board in each of the last five years. [141751]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe expenditure requirements of the three General Lighthouse Authorities are met from the General Lighthouse Fund. The annual expenditure from 1998–99 to 2002–03 is set out in the following table.
£000 Trinity House Lighthouse
Northern Lighthouse
Board
Commissioners of Irish Lights 1998–99 29,362 22,057 13,401 1999–2000 28,587 28,185 13,701 2000–01 30,364 22,930 15,077 2001–02 30,203 24,210 16,168 2002–03 31,998 22,385 16,034
§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will use to review the level of light dues in spring 2004. [141750]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Secretary of State will determine the light dues to be levied in 2004/05 taking account of the General Lighthouse Authority Corporate Plans and investment in new depots and ships and of the level at which the General Lighthouse Fund Reserve should be maintained to underpin the operation and pension arrangements.