§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what date the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was first requested to allow an appointment of an education and language officer by the Ulster-Scots Agency, why there has been a delay; and when permission will be given. [HL4722]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)The Ulster-Scots Agency approached the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in June 2002 seeking additional staff. The agency provided details of the staffing requested on 9 July 2002.
In July 2002 DCAL, on behalf of the agency, commissioned the Business Development Service (BDS) to develop an organisational structure that would reflect the operational needs of the agency. The work was undertaken in two stages. The first involved a review of four core administrative posts, and on 2 October 2002 DCAL asked BDS to proceed to the second stage, which included drawing up a job description for a director of education and language.
The evaluation of the post was delayed due to BDS experiencing difficulty gaining relevant information from the agency and work pressures in DCAL. However, the agency is now considering a draft job description prepared by BDS, and when this has been agreed, DCAL will press ahead with the completion of the approved interim procedures process to allow the agency to advertise the post.