§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the Northern Ireland Civic Forum cost in the financial year 2003–04; under what headings the cost was broken down; and with what authorisation; and [HL4105]
Whether Northern Ireland Civic Forum staff have been reallocated to other departments since October 2002; if so, whether their salaries and expenses are scored against the new department; and how was such expenditure approved and by whom. [HL4106]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)In the financial year 2003–04 costs incurred in relation to the Northern Ireland Civic Forum amounted to some £128,000. This may be broadly broken down in terms of maintaining accommodation to allow for the swift restoration of devolution (approx £88,000), salary costs for redeployed staff (approx £37,000) and sundry costs (apporox £3,000) in respect of maintenance of Equipment, contracts, professional fees etc.
2000 € 2001 € 2002 € 2003 € 2004 € Royal Capital 1,133,916 2,396,265 2,477,955 982,372 431,422 Maintenance 1,561,909 1,675,239 3,086,122 2,384,152 1,724,175 Grand Capital 698,734 1,159,298 618,125 919,537 480,868 Maintenance 1,075,375 1,428,247 3,454,322 3,708,288 2,472,698 The accounts for 2003 are still under audit review and therefore the above figures should be regarded as provisional.
The figures for 2004 are the management accounts figures to end August 2004 only.
Waterways Ireland does not have a Union Canal under its remit.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
In each year since 2000 what groups and individuals Waterways Ireland consulted about their business and corporate plans. [HL4174]
§ Baroness AmosWaterways Ireland has developed two corporate plans and three business plans over the past three years—a combined corporate and business plan for 2002–04; a corporate plan for 2005–07; and business plans for 2003, 2004 and 2005.
During development of the corporate plan 2005–07, Waterways Ireland used the services of a facilitator to help with preparation of the plan. Internal consultation was undertaken, involving a corporate planning day with senior managers and circulation of the draft plan to staff for comment.
68WAThe redeployment of Civic Forum staff was anticipated to be a short term step with staff returning to Civic Forum duties immediately upon restoration. Budgetary provision for these staff was therefore retained within the Civic Forum salary allocation.
This arrangement was not satisfactory in bookkeeping terms for a protracted period of suspension and has now been resolved. No salaries will be charged against any Civic Forum allocation for the year 2004–05.
All expenditure incurred on behalf of the Civic Forum since October 2002 was authorised by officials operating within normal departmental accounting practices.