§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 April (WA 63) concerning the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, who calculated the budget for 2004; on what basis it was calculated; after what consultation; and with whom. [HL2703]
§ Baroness AmosI refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 22 March (WA 73).
The 2004 budget calculation for the Ulster-Scots Agency was based on the approved actions in the agency's business plan, together with associated staffing costs.
40WA
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 April (WA 63) concerning the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, on what date in 2001 the agency acquired the premises in Donegal. [HL2704]
§ Baroness AmosThere was a factual error in the Written Answer given to the noble Lord on 23 April (WA 63). At its board meeting on 7 December 2001 the Ulster-Scots Agency agreed to accept a five-year lease of the Donegal premises. However, the agency acquired the premises in Donegal when its lease commenced on 1 July 2002.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the corporate plan and the business plans of the Ulster-Scots Agency have been agreed by the appropriate Northern Ireland departments and by the North/South Ministerial Council. [HL2817]
§ Baroness AmosThe Ulster-Scots Agency's draft corporate plan for 2005–07 and the draft business plan for 2005 have not been agreed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The draft plans are presently under consideration by the sponsor departments, North and South.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 18 May (WA 75), whether Mr Ó'Ríagaín attended the Ulster Scots future search from 28 to 30 November 2002; and whether he gave consultancy advice to the department directly after the event; and, if so, why that information was not provided. [HL2961]
§ Baroness AmosMr Ó'Ríagaín attended the future search conference in November 2002. The advice he subsequently gave related to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made since 1 March by the Ulster Scots future search, organised by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. [HL3010]
§ Baroness AmosSince 1 March 2004, there have been a number of meetings of the Ulster Scots Future Search Implementation Group. These addressed language, education, equality, communication, community infrastructure/empowerment and internationalism. The work was temporarily suspended in April 2004 at the request of Ulster Scots representatives.