§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 December (WA 2) concerning the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Linguistic Diversity Branch, whether the branch does not contain officials with expertise in the Irish language and in Ulster-Scots language and culture; and, if not, why not. [HL804]
§ Lord Williams of MostynI refer the noble Lord to my previous Answers on 6 November (WA 123) and 9 December 2002 (WA 2).
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a consultant from the Community Relations Council has in the past two years been employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to examine the area of 82WA cultural traditions; if so, what was the criterion used for appointment; who interviewed the candidates; what was the job specification; whether there have been any reports; when the work will be completed and what was the cost. [HL865]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has not employed a consultant from the Community Relations Council to examine the area of cultural traditions. The department in progressing its commitment to -Face to Face—a Vision for Arts and Culture in Northern Ireland has however engaged the services of the Community Relations Council from September 2001 to assist in developing a cultural diversity policy framework. The Community Relations Council assigned a consultant with the ability to provide specialist support for DCAL in taking forward Face to Face. To date, no formal reports have been completed. It is the intention of the department however to issue the proposed cultural diversity framework based on this work for consultation in line with Programme for Government. The contract with the Community Relations Council will be terminated with effect from 31 January 2003. The cost of the project to date has been £34,506.