Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

HL Deb 15 July 2003 vol 651 cc91-2WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the funds for the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for 2003–04 will be allocated; whether provision for Ulster Scots activity, other than through the Ulster Scots Agency, is included in the 2003–04 budget allocation; and, if so, how much. [HL3314]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Funds for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) for 2003–04 will be allocated in line with the budget documentBuilding on Progress presented by the right honourable Member for Dudley South on 11 December 2002. This is available in the House of Lords Library.

Provision for Ulster Scots activity is provided for through monies allocated to the North/South Language Body.

There is also assistance for Ulster Scots activities through DCALs NDPBs, in particular the Arts Council. They currently have committed £83,000 to Ulster Scots activities in 2003–04 to the Development fund for Ulster Scots Language, Arts and Altnaveigh House Cultural Society respectively.

There are also four lottery applications from Ulster Scots organisations: the Ulster Scots Folk Orchestra, Schomberg Society, Altnaveigh Trust Society and the Ulster Scots Dance Alliance which are currently being considered.

In addition a number of organisations that have Ulster Scots aspects to their programmes, such as marching or pipe bands, will also receive funding during this period.