§ Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ On what date the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh was first informed about the decision of the Government of the Irish Republic to cut by 16 per cent the budget of the Language Implementation Body for 2003; by whom; in what form; and what was the council's response. [HL3312]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Department of Finance and Personnel informed the North/South4WA Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat on 30 January 2003 of the budgets for all the North/South Implementation Bodies. This information was sent in a schedule, which outlined the total budget for 2003, the Northern/Southern contributions and the projected budget provisions for 2004 and 2005 in respect of each body.
Under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002, the two governments approved the recommendation for the total budget for the North/South Language Body on 26 February 2003.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June (WA 42), why the proportions of financing between the Government and the Irish Government for the Language Implementation Body have not been reconsidered in recent years; and whether they will not reconsider them. [HL3365]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe proportionality of funding between the UK Government and the Irish Government for all North/South Implementation Bodies is reviewed as part of the normal budget process each year. To date this has not resulted in any change to the proportionality of funding for the Language Body.