§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8 September (WA 6) concerning cross border bodies, what is the "normal budget process each year"; whether it includes consultation with all concerned; and on what date proportionality of funding was discussed with the Ulster Scots Agency. [HL4410]
§ Baroness AmosThe normal budget process for the Ulster Scots Agency is set out in the North/South Language Body's financial memorandum and involves consultation and discussion between the agency and sponsor and Finance Departments North and South. The budgets of the North/South implementation bodies, following the suspension of devolution, are agreed and approved under the agreement contained 127WA in the exchange of notes between the two governments dated 19 November 2002. Proportionality has not been discussed with the Ulster Scots Agency.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the internal staff costs of each of the North/South implementation bodies for each year since their creation. [HL4595]
§ Baroness AmosDetails of the staff costs for each of the North/South implementation bodies for each year since their creation are provided in the table below:
Body 20001£ 2001£ 2002£ Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission 776,772 868,930 864,062 Waterways Ireland 3,600,000 5,600,000 5,600,000 (estimate) The Trade and Business Development Body 479,134 906,028 1,123,446 Special EU Programmes Body 433,409 587,574 942,418 The North/South Language Body 21,158,516 2 1,232,190 21,325,374 The Food Safety Promotion Board 139,000 319,000 471,000 1 Costs relating to 2000 cover the period 3 December 1999 to 31 December 2000. 2 Euro exchange rate as at 6 March 2003. € = 0.6854 has been used to convert expenditure incurred by Foras na Gaelige.