§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Eire Government informed the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure of its contribution towards the Ulster-Scots Agency's budget for 2004; how much was that contribution; and what is the figure agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council replacement procedure. [HL1633]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)The 2004 budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency was set after consultation between the sponsor departments and the agency. The chief executive was advised on 30 October 2003 that the Ulster-Scots Agency's budget for 2004 would be in the region of £1.67 million. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) advised the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) on 13 November 2003 that the 2004 abridged estimates had been published and the amount allocated for the North/South Language Body was 14.633 million euros. There was no breakdown for the Irish Language Agency or the Ulster-Scots Agency. The budget figure agreed for the Ulster-Scots Agency by the North/South Ministerial Council under the interim procedure was £ 1.704 million.