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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY FIRST MEETING OF THE HIGHER
AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE 1. Apologies PRESENT: Dr E Birnie (Chairman) IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mr C Jones, Mrs C McGrattan and Professor Osborne (Adviser) 1. Apologies (Closed Session) Roy Beggs and Joe Byrne. 2. Status of Briefing Noted. The Committee had unanimously agreed to ask for today’s meeting to be held in open session. The Committee had therefore asked the Department, following its deliberations on Tuesday 12 September, that Dr Davison would give evidence in open session. However the Department had requested that the discussion of findings emerging from their review of Student Finance should take place in closed session. The Committee’s view is that a discussion in open session would have been appropriate. The formal notes provided for this session are to be considered as confidential and not to be placed in the public domain. The Chairman’s request to the Minister that today’s meeting should be open was tabled. 3. Draft Minutes of Meeting on Thursday 7 September 2000
Agreed. 4. Matters Arising
Noted and agreed. Committee staff to determine the current status of the New TSN Action Plan and the extent to which any revision has accounted for the Committee’s response.
Agreed. Chairman to respond to the Minister to determine whether there is central expertise to be drawn on by bodies applying to this initiative.
Noted. The Chairman had written to the Minister on the possibility of double counting, against the target of 2,000 additional places, (New Deal entrants taking the Further Education option). Also to obtain details of the proposals submitted to the New Deal Review Committee in London.
Noted. Any queries on the remit given to the advisers for the enquiry into "Education and Training for Industry" should be discussed at today’s session. The National Skills Task Force Final Report, and Government’s response, would inform Members on the work of the enquiry.
Noted. A draft paper is to be issued for consideration at the meeting on Tuesday 19 September. The Chairman has requested that the Minister briefs the Committee well before the announcement of the Department’s review of Student Finance.
Agreed. The meeting on 19 September to be conducted in open session. Following finalisation of the report, the Committee would ask for an Assembly debate on Student Finance, with the precise nature of the motion being agreed at a future meeting. 5. Chairman’s Business
Noted. Summary of results was included in folders for information.
Noted. A copy of the Chairman’s letter to the Minister on 13 September was tabled. Members will examine this and raise any further issues at a future meeting.
Noted. Several Members had approached the Clerk to obtain information on the above scheme. This had been obtained from the Department and had been tabled for all Members for examination. Agreed. Committee staff to obtain details on the consultation process, which had closed on 16 August 2000.
Noted. The motion proposing an Assembly debate on New Deal has been lodged to the Business Office. 6. Evidence Session: Dr Robson Davison and supporting officials for the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment The Committee took evidence from Departmental officials, which was in two parts. Members received further briefing on the current system of Student Finance in open session, before discussing the issues emerging from the Department’s review in closed session. The session concluded at 1:30pm, with the chairman thanking officials for what had been a frank and useful exchange. 7. Presentation by the Advisers on the conduct of the Committee’s Enquiry into Education and Training for Industry (Open Session) After a short break for lunch, Members reconvened at 2:05pm, with the advisers to the Committee Enquiry to discuss:
8. AOB
Agreed. Once the response on Student Finance is completed, given the increasing demands of other Assembly work (including newly formed ad-hoc Committees) and to allow for constituency work, Members will review whether and how work could be focussed within one meeting per week. This will be discussed on Thursday 21 September.
Noted and agreed.
Tuesday 19 September at 12:30pm. Meeting closed at 4:30pm. Esmond Birnie 21 September 2000
ESMOND BIRNIE |