To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding has been provided to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since 1 January 2008, against what business cases, and when. [HL4047]

As stated in my Answer to the noble Lord of 30 March (Official Report, cols. WA 199-200), the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's annual expenditure is published each year in its annual report and accounts, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The Northern Ireland Office provides funding to the commission each financial year, which is a period of 12 months ending on 31 March. The commission's final expenditure in 2007-08 was £1.672 million and £1.744 million in 2008-09. The budget allocation for 2009-10 has been agreed at £1.657 million, based on consideration of the commission's draft business plan and discussion of the justification for the proposed spend. These figures include cash and non-cash payments.

Allocation of funding is reviewed with the commission during in-year monitoring rounds and regularly throughout the financial year.