§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days on average his Department took976W
£ 2002–03 19,448 2003–04 2,597 (c) British-Irish Inter-governmental Conference
The cost of the British-Irish Inter-governmental Conferences since 1999 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The expenditure of the British-Irish Inter-governmental Secretariat is met by the two governments. The costs given are in relation to the British Government since 2 December 1999.
Cost(£) 1Staff 1999–2000 2232 14 2000–01 488 14 2001–02 554 12 2002–03 539 12 2003–04 3445 12 1Figures given include staff from the Northern Ireland Office and the Irish Government. 2As the British-Irish Inter-governmental Conference was established on 2 December 1999, this figure covers the period 2 December 1999 to 31 March 2000. 3Provisional figure (up to 31 January 2004)
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings of the(a) North-South Ministerial Council, (b) British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference and (c) British Irish Council took place in each year since they were created. [156626]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe numbers of ministerial meetings that have taken place are as follows:
in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary Question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was. [155921]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThis information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I would like to assure the hon. Member that my department understands the importance of providing prompt and accurate answers to all Parliamentary Questions.