COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 13TH MAY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
In Attendance: Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Andy Cooper (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Richard Keating (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Paul Butler MLA
The meeting opened at 10:04am in public session
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 6th May 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Departmental briefing on European Company Statute Regulations
10.08am Rev Dr Coulter joined the meeting
10.14am Ms McGill joined the meeting
10.16am Mr Irwin joined the meeting
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials: Valerie Reilly, Head of Employment Relations Policy and Legislation Branch, and Andrew Dawson of Employment Relations Policy and Legislation Branch, on proposed legislation relating to European Companies. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
3. Departmental briefing of Training Allowances
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials: Michael Gould, Assistant Director of Skills and Industry Division, and Sian McCleave of Programme Management Branch, on proposals to introduce training allowances to companies to up-skill their workforce. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
4. Departmental Response to the Committee’s First Report on Training for Success
Agreed: Members noted the Department’s response to the Committee’s First Report on Training for Success and agreed that the response be forwarded to the stakeholders who gave evidence to the inquiry for consideration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its response to the Department detailing a number of concerns raised.
11.31am Mr Irwin left the meeting
5. Matter Arising
Briefing from Age Concern / Help the Aged – Committee motion & press release
Agreed: Members discussed and agreed the wording of the Committee’s motion to the Assembly on the availability of discounted college courses for older people. The motion is as follows:
“That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to enter into discussions with the Regional Colleges with the aim of reinstating concessionary course fees for older people; acknowledging that the availability of these courses provides considerable social as well as educational benefits to older people”.
Issues arising from Teacher Education Review – Teacher Demand Model Review; Teacher Education Review; Numbers of places allocated to St Mary’s and Stranmillis for Academic Year 2009/10
Agreed: Members discussed a number of issues that arose during the Committee’s Review of Teacher Education and agreed to write to the Education Minister seeking an update on the Review of the Teacher Demand Model. The Committee also agreed to write to the regional college on the issue of demand for available courses and student numbers on those courses.
Construction of Belfast Metropolitan College campus at Titanic Quarter
Members noted a Departmental press release announcing the commencement of the construction of new education facilities for Belfast Metropolitan College at Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Agreed: Members agreed that representatives of the College brief the Committee on the future direction of the college following construction of the campus.
6. Chairperson’s Business
12.06pm Mr Attwood left the meeting
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses. The Committee also noted a number of forthcoming events to be attended by the Chairperson and/or Deputy Chairperson.
Agreed: Members agreed to write commending the Minister for establishing the Holylands Stakeholder Forum and requesting information on how its work will be progressed.
7. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notice issued recently.
8. Any Other Business
Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on the Review od New Deal 25+
The Committee noted the recently published report of the Northern Ireland Audit Office on the review of the Department’s New Deal 25+ programme.
Arrangements for Committee visits to Foyle School and Employer Connections (FOSEC) on 20th May and Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) on 27th May
Members noted arrangements for forthcoming Committee study visits.
University and College Union (UCU) Regional Annual General Meeting
Members noted an invitation to the UCU’s Regional Annual General Meeting on 24th June 2009.
ApprenticeshipsNI Programme: Summary of Main Findings
Agreed: Members noted a summary of the main findings of the Education and Training Inspectorate’s report on the Department’s ApprenticeshipsNI Programme and agreed that the document be included in the Committee’s Report on the Way Forward for Apprenticeships.
Foyle School and Employer Connections (FOSEC) Paper
Members noted a paper from Foyle School and Employer Connections (FOSEC) in advance of the Committee’s study visit on 20th May.
House of Commons Parliamentary Debate on the Visteon Factory (Basildon)
Members noted a Hansard transcript of the House of Commons Parliamentary Debate on the Visteon Factory (Basildon) held on 30th April 2009.
Revised Forward Work Programme
Member noted the Committee’s revised Forward Work Programme.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next official meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, 9th June at 12.30pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Committee will undertake study visits to Foyle School of Employer Connections (FOSEC) on 20th May and to Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) on 27th May.
There will not be a Committee meeting on 3rd June.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:24pm.
Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
10 June 2009