§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in levy by bookmakers in Northern Ireland to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; how much of that levy in each year was transferred to Horseracing Ireland; and how much Horseracing Ireland spent in each year in Northern Ireland. [153625]
§ Mr. PearsonCharges paid by bookmakers in Northern Ireland to the Horse Racing Fund (which is controlled and managed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) in each of the last three years were as follows:
Amount (£) 2003 351,531 2002 354,083 2001 341,928 The Horse Racing (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 specifies to whom, and for what, payments may be made out of the Fund. Payments are not made to Horseracing Ireland. Horseracing Ireland is a body constituted in the Republic of Ireland. My Department is not aware of how much it spent in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.