asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure imposed any conditions on the job specification and job advertisement for the current chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency. [HL2974]
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure officials consulted the Ulster-Scots Agency to agree a job specification and job advertisement for the CEO post when it was last advertised.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure took legal advice concerning the appointment of the current chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency; if so, what effect that advice had on the recruitment process; and whether they will place a copy of the advice in the Library of the House. [HL2975]
Yes. The legal advice is, however, subject to legal professional privilege and will not be laid in the Library of the House.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, since the creation of the Ulster-Scots Agency, any job advertisements for that agency were agreed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture Arts and Leisure; and, if so, for which positions. [HL2976]
Since its inception, the Ulster Scots Agency has agreed as required with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure job advertisements relating to posts within the organisation.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 March (WA 250–2) concerning the funding of the Ulster-Scots Agency, by when they propose that the Ulster-Scots Agency will have parity of funding with the Irish Language Agency as envisaged in the Belfast Agreement in 1998. [HL3068]
I have nothing further to add to the Answer I gave the noble Lord on 26 March 2007 (WA250).
asked Her Majesty's Government:
In each year since its creation, what indicative budget has been provided to the Ulster-Scots Agency; and what budget was actually awarded in each year following the development of its business case by the agency. [HL3069]
The funding for the Ulster-Scots Agency is based on the approved actions in the agency's annual business plans together with associated staffing costs. The budgets awarded to the agency since its creation are shown in the following table:
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Amounts £0.667m £1.29m £1.42m £1.54m £1.78m £1.809m £2.132m £2.557m
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Ulster-Scots Agency develops its annual budget alongside the indicative budget which is supplied by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. [HL3070]
The Ulster-Scots Agency's annual business plan is compiled taking into account the indicative budget figures.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How the Ulster-Scots Agency's annual indicative budget is developed; who is involved in the process; whether there is outside consultation; and whether equality is a consideration. [HL3091]
Indicative budget calculations are based on the current year budget figure with increased allocations based on approved actions in their corporate plans, cost of living increases and the department's best estimate of draft budget proposals. Officials from the sponsor departments and finance departments are involved in the process, along with agency officials who include the indicative budget figure in the business plan. There is full consultation on the agency's corporate and business plans.