§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10 May (WA 1) concerning the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, what were the interviews for the Cultural Affairs Office; how many interviews were held; and why the interviews were conducted in the United States. [HL2818]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)The interviews were for the appointment—on a pilot basis—of a cultural affairs officer. The officer would act on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, based in the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington. For that reason the interviews were held in Washington.
Six candidates were interviewed. One official travelled from Belfast to conduct the interviews with Washington-based officials.