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Written Answers
Thursday, 18th December 2003.
Northern Ireland: Advice to Ministers
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 19 November (WA 323), why the Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure officials Dr Edward Rooney and Mrs Patricia McAllister did not communicate the advice concerning the budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency for 2003 to the Minister as directly requested by the chairman of the Agency.[HL42]
The Lord President of The Council (Baroness Amos): Officials take account of a range of representations when providing advice to Ministers. However, in line with Part II, paragraph 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information it is not the practice of government to comment on advice given to Ministers by officials.
Northern Ireland: Religious Discrimination
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 19 November (WA 329), whether the Northern Ireland Equality Commission is opposed to religious discrimination in all sectors of employment.[HL43]
Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 19 November 2003 (WA 329).
North/South Language Body: Budget
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 353), what is the difference between the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs advising the Department for Culture Arts and Leisure of the 2003 budget for the Language Body and the former department advising the latter department of its provision for the budget for 2003, when the Government are obliged to provide three times the Eire contribution.[HL175]
Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to my answer given on the 20 November (WA 353). maria
North/South Implementation Bodies
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 351), whether any department in either Government have agreed the 2004 budget with any of the Bodies; and, if not, why the schedule is not being adhered to.[HL176]
Baroness Amos: In accordance with the arrangements under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the two governments dated 19 November 2002, recommended budget allocations for North/South implementation bodies are subject to joint agreement by Ministers North and South and cannot be agreed separately by any department in either jurisdiction. The budget process has not yet been completed in respect of 2004.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 349), what meetings have taken place since 1999 between stakeholders in both jurisdictions; who was represented; and when the next meeting is scheduled. [HL177]
Baroness Amos: Since 1999, officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) and the Irish Department of Finance (DoF) have met frequently in connection with the drafting of the rules of the North/South Pension Scheme and related issues. DFP and DoF officials have also held meetings with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the North/South bodies and/or their staff, and have attended meetings with the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat. Occasionally, officials from the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have been involved in meetings where the progress towards implementation of the scheme has been discussed.
The CEOs and/or their representatives have met with the Trade Unions, North and South, on three occasions during 2002–03.
In addition, DFP and DoF officials, and on one occasion the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretaries, have attended meetings between stakeholders in GB and Ireland. In GB, these involved the Government Actuary's Department, Inland Revenue or the Department for Work and Pensions. In Ireland, these involved the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department for Social and Family Affairs, or the Pensions Board.
A meeting between the NSMC Joint Secretaries, a DFP official, a legal advisor, and officials from the Department for Work and Pensions, in London, is scheduled for 15 December 2003.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 351), whether proportionality of funding is being considered for 2004 for all cross-Border implementation bodies.[HL189]
Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 8 September (WA 4).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 350), whether they can give an undertaking that the year 2000 accounts for the Language Implementation Body will be
- certified in a similar way to all other accounts for cross-Border implementation bodies and with the same wording.[HL220]
Baroness Amos: The certification of the accounts of cross-Border implementation bodies is the responsibility of the Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland and the Comptroller and Auditor-General for the Republic of Ireland. The accounts for all North/South implementation bodies are audited in accordance with the relevant provisions of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the written answer by the Lord President on 20 November (WA 352), concerning the £8.4 million underspend expected from the 2003 budgets of the cross-Border implementation bodies, why an underspend is permitted in their business cases.[HL221]
Baroness Amos: Business cases reflect the planned level of activity, and associated costs, for the year in question, and do not include any provision for underspend. However, it is always possible that unforeseen factors may emerge which give rise to an underspend.
The Answer of 20 November outlines the factors which have emerged during 2003, giving rise to expected underspends for that year.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What activities of the cross-Border bodies require the preparation of a business case.[HL269]
Baroness Amos: In accordance with the relevant financial memorandum, each North/South implementation body is required to prepare an annual business plan, together with details of the associated budgetary requirements. The business plan should cover all planned activities for the year in question.
Lord Laird asked her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 4 December (WA 31) and 17 November (WA 235) concerning the "number of factors" which indicate the appropriate proportionality of funding for the Ulster Scots Agency in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, why they have refused to detail these factors; and whether they will now do so.[HL362]
Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the Answers given on 4 December 2003 (WA 31), and 17 November (WA 235).
Special European Union Programmes Body: Chief Executive
Lord Laird asked her Majesty's Government:
- What is the current status of the former chief executive of the European Special Programmes Implementation Body; whether he will be taking up
- his post again; and, if not, whether he is in receipt of a pension or other considerations as a result of his time as chief executive.[HL178]
Baroness Amos: After being reinstated on Friday 5 December 2003 the chief executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) subsequently resigned with effect from Wednesday 10 December 2003. He was entitled to, and has received seven weeks' pay in lieu of notice. The North/South implementation bodies do not yet have a pension scheme, and in the interim period, Mr McKinney is entitled to payments equivalent to what would be payable under the provisions of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland). The lump sum equivalent to what would be payable under those terms is being paid immediately. Mr McKinney also received a one-off ex gratia payment of £20,000, and solicitors' costs of £2,500, under the terms agreed with the British and Irish Governments to resolve the uncertainty over the SEUPB, in the public interest.
North/South Ministerial Secretariat
Lord Laird asked her Majesty's Government:
- How, as part of the review of the Belfast agreement announced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, they intend to scrutinise:
(a) the actions of the Eire Government in implementing human rights activity;
(b) the workings of the Special European Programmes Body and its relationship to the North-South Ministerial Joint Secretariat;
(c) the conditions of employment of the first chief executive of the Special European Programmes Body; and
(d) the approach of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure over the past two years in dealing with the Language Implementation Body.[HL299]
Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 11 December 2003 (WA 78).
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