HL Deb 07 July 2003 vol 651 c6WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 5 June (WA 180), whether the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure noted that the agency minutes of 2 and 5 November 2001 and 25 January 2002 stated that it had agreed to carry over funds to the next financial year; if so, what action the department took on each occasion; and whether they will place any relevant memorandum in the Library of the House. [HL3363]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has minutes of the Ulster-Scots Agency board meetings of 2 November 2001 arid 25 January 2002. It does not have minutes of a board meeting on 5 November 2001.

Officials from the department had advised the then Acting Chief Executive of the Ulstcr-Scots Agency on 25 October 2001 that there was no mechanism For a carry over of provision from one financial year to the next.

In light of the 25 January 2002 minutes officials, on 11 February 2002, again pointed out to the Acting Chief Executive that there was no mechanism for carry over and that the department had not agreed to a carry over.

All the communications with officials of the Ulster-Scots Agency referred to above were made orally.