asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why there is less spent by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland per head of the population than Arts Councils in other parts of the United Kingdom; and what they propose to do to redress the balance. [HL3090]

Historically funding for the arts in Northern Ireland has been lower per head of population than in other parts of the UK. This reflects past regional priorities for public expenditure.

The level of funding for the arts in future years will be considered as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any public expenditure will be committed to artistic events that comprise the Northern Ireland section of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in July; and, if so, how much. [HL3141]

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a professionally curated, outdoor exhibit of ethnography demonstrating living cultural traditions as practised in contemporary society. The Northern Ireland programme on the National Mall is jointly funded between the NI Administration and the Smithsonian Institution. It is anticipated that the total costs of mounting the NI exhibit on the Mall will be in the region of £1,252,998 of which NI's share of the costs will be approximately £789,000. This will be partly underwritten by private sector sponsorship.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which publicly funded organisations from Northern Ireland will be represented at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in July. [HL3142]

At the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival there will be some participants who are currently employed in publicly funded organisations. The invitation pertains to the person as an expert on cultural traditions rather than the organisation:

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland;

Environment and Heritage Service;

Newry Institute/School of Hospitality and Tourism;

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland; and

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to promote publicly funded arts organisations from Northern Ireland at international events other than the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. [HL3143]

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure works in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council to showcase artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland at international events.

In addition to the Smithsonian Institution Folklife Festival, which will run from 27 June to 8 July 2007, events supported over the last year and those planned for 2007 are shown in the following table: