COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
4 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Peter Weir MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Simon Hamilton MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
David McNarry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Ian Paisley Jr MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 10.09 am in open session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
Agreed: that the following evidence sessions will be recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the website:Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency briefing on Consultation on Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measures 2009; and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) update on Building Regulations.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 14 October 2009
Agreed: that the minutes be published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the composite request for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Agreed: that the Committee will request an update on progress on the Equal Pay issue, including clarification on the position regarding TG1 and TG2 grades.
The Committee noted responses from DFP to a number of queries raised on the September Monitoring Round.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Social Economy Network on Special Contract Arrangements in relation to the Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 10.12am.
Members noted correspondence from Carson McDowell Solicitors in relation to feedback from the Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference on 21 October 2009.
Agreed: that the Committee will consider inviting the legal firms who gave evidence to the Inquiry to comment further, should any legal issues arise as the Committee develops its Inquiry recommendations.
The Committee noted correspondence from NOW on Gauge and Social Return on Investment.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to the invitation to brief the Committee on the proposed revised departmental expenditure plans.
Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting at 10.17am.
Members discussed recent announcements on restructuring in the banking sector in the United Kingdom.
Agreed: that the Committee will liaise with the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment as to the potential for a concurrent meeting to take evidence from local banks on any implications for Northern Ireland from recent developments within the sector.
4. Briefing on Consultation on NI Multiple Deprivation Measures 2009 (Evidence from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA))
The Committee took evidence from Dr Norman Caven, Chief Executive; David Marshall, Demography and Methodology Branch; and Cathryn McBurney, Demography and Methodology Branch, NISRA. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Paisley Jr joined the meeting at 10.23am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 10.56am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.57am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.01am.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 11.02am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.05am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.05am.
Mr Paisley Jr left the meeting at 11.09am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.14am.
Agreed: that the NISRA officials will provide information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: that, while a number of concerns have been raised by members during the session, the Committee broadly welcomes the ongoing public consultation. The Committee will forward to DFP the responses received from other statutory committees and will request a written report on the issues arising from the consultation, including on how these and the issues raised during this evidence session will be addressed.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 10.19am.
5. Progress on NICS Employment Equality and Diversity Plan 2008-11 (DFP Evidence Session)
The Committee took evidence from John McKervill, Head of Resourcing Division, Corporate HR, and Sonya Kilpatrick, Resourcing Division, Corporate HR, DFP.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.21am.
Mr Paisley Jr returned to the meeting at 11.25am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.26am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.26am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.28am.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 11.34am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.44am.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 11.49am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.50am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.56am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.01pm.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide a written response on a number of issues raised, including: comparative figures on staff attitudes survey; clarification on progress of the equal pay audit; a more detailed breakdown of the community background figures for NICS Grade 5 and above; the number of Protestant staff required at administrative grades to meet the fair participation target; an explanation of why the Roman Catholic labour force figure for Grade 5 and above appears to be relatively low; and confirmation that a more standarised approach will be taken in the related statistical reports. The Committee also requested that written equality and diversity updates are provided on completion of recruitment competitions.
6. Update on Building Regulations (DFP Evidence Session)
The Committee took evidence from Seamus McCrystal, Head of Building Standards, Properties Division; Hilda Hagan, Building Regulations and Energy, Properties Division; and Gerry McKibbin, Properties Division, DFP. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 12.10pm.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 12.10pm.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.15pm.
Mr Paisley Jr left the meeting at 12.19pm.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: that the extract from the DFP briefing paper relating to the Changing Places Campaign is copied to Mencap for comment.
Agreed: that the provisions supporting the Building Regulations should define the required standard where a Changing Places facility was to be provided.
Agreed: that the annex to the DFP briefing paper, showing progress against the Committee’s previous recommendations on the Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill, is published on the Committee’s website when agreed by the Minister.
7. Proposal for Subordinate Legislation: The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
The Committee received an oral briefing from Seamus McCrystal, Head of Building Standards, Properties Division; Hilda Hagan, Building Regulations and Energy, Properties Division; and Gerry McKibbin, Properties Division, DFP, on a revised proposal for subordinate legislation – The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 12.27pm.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 12.27pm.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 12.30pm.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 12.30pm.
Agreed: that the Committee was content with the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
8. Statutory Rule: The Rate Relief (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
The Committee considered SR 2009 No.339 The Rate Relief (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and the accompanying explanatory memorandum, which had been laid in the Business Office by DFP. The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had not yet formally reported on the Rule, but had indicated that it was unlikely any issues would be raised by way of technical scrutiny.
The Committee noted that it had previously considered this proposal on 9 September 2009 and had agreed that it was content with the policy implications of the proposal at that stage.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2009 No.339 The Rate Relief (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ final report, has no objection to the Rule.
9. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Follow up to Construction Contracts Bill evidence session on 30 September 2009.
- DFP: Follow up to Public Procurement evidence session on 30 September 2009.
- DFP: Completed templates from Construction and Supplies & Services contracts and from Belfast Education and Library Board.
Agreed: that Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) should pursue outstanding responses on the number and value of contracts awarded to SMEs and Social Economy Enterprises. The Committee will also commission statistical analysis of the data from Assembly Research.
- DFP : Update on Legal Challenges against Government Procurement.
- DFP: Response to HRConnect query from Civil Servant.
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the response to the Civil Servant.
- DFP: Invitation from the Minister to “Making European Cooperation a Reality” Conference in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast.
- DFP: Letter from Minister regarding further clarification on National Assets Management Agency.
- DFP: NI Place-Names Project at QUB and Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Townland Names.
Agreed: that the Committee will ask DFP to review the funding options for the Place-Names project. The Committee will also notify the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure that it is content for that Committee to take forward a bill relating to this issue.
- DFP: Update on the progress against recommendations in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Report on Statement of Rate Levy and Collection 2006-07
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the correspondence to PAC for information.
- DFP: Response to Committee for Regional Development’s invitation to give evidence on Water and Sewerages Bill
- DFP: Response to issues raised by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) on The Presumption of Death Act ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the response to the NIHRC for information.
- Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA): Local Government Policy Relationship
Agreed: the Committee will invite NILGA to provide a written submission to its Public Procurement Inquiry. The Committee will also commission Assembly Research to provide a research paper comparing local government procurement in other jurisdictions.
- PAC – Monitoring of Departmental Post Project Evaluations
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- DFP: Geographical distribution of take up of rate relief.
DFP: Policy Evaluation on the exemption from non-domestic rates for ATMs located in rural areas.
Agreed: that the Committee will request an oral briefing from DFP officials on these rating issues.
- Sustainable NI: “Sense and sustainability: financing the path to sustainability in a tough economy.”
- Committee for the Environment: Funding of “SWIF” and DFP: Response to query on Funding of “SWIF”
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Cost of insurance in NI and Third Party Capture.
- Committee for OFMDFM: European Investment Bank – Access to funding.
- DFP: Response from Minister on European Investment Bank.
- DFP: 2009-10 Forecast Outturn Reports for October.
- Committee for OFMDFM: Committee Engagement in European Issues.
Agreed: that the Committee will respond, outlining DFPs remit in regard to EU issues.
- Committee for OFMDFM: Executive’s European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- Committee for OFMDFM: First and Deputy First Ministers’ response on the Executive’s European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10.
- DFP: follow up to evidence session on Pleural Plaques on 7 October 2009.
- Association of British Insurers: Response to the evidence session on Pleural Plaques on 7 October 2009.
- Northern Ireland Office: Consultation on increasing the penalties for section 55 (Data Protection Act) offences.
- DFP: Resource Accounts for year ended 31 March 2009.
- DFP: Superannuation and Other Allowances Resource Accounts for year ended 31 March 2009.
- DFP: the North/South Pension Scheme Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009.
- Northern Ireland Assembly Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009.
- Evangelical Alliance: written submission on Faith, Funding and the Dormant Account Scheme
Agreed: that the correspondence is forward to DFP for response to the recommendations contained in the submission.
- Correspondence regarding the Northern Ireland Civil Service Equal Pay Claim.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- NI Electrical Standards Lobbying Group (NIESLG)
Agreed: that the Committee will request a written briefing from NIESLG.
10. Committee Work Programme
Agreed: that a written report on the Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference will be considered at the Committee’s meeting on 25 November 2009.
Agreed: that representatives from CPD and a representative from the Procurement Board are invited to brief the Committee at its meeting on 25 November 2009.
Members noted that three specialists will provide oral evidence to the Committee on efficiency savings. Two further specialists have been agreed to provide written evidence.
Agreed: that the Committee will notify PAC of its invitation for the Comptroller and Auditor General, Kieran Donnelly, to give evidence on efficiency savings.
Members noted the responses from all government departments to Assembly Questions on the impact of efficiency savings on front line services.
Agreed: that this information is issued to the specialists providing evidence on efficiency savings.
Agreed: that, once the evidence on efficiency savings has been received, the Committee will consider providing a practical guidance note to all statutory committees on the scrutiny of departmental efficiency delivery plans.
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until Christmas recess.
Agreed: that the current draft of the programme be published on the Assembly website.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.53pm.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 12.54pm.
11. Any Other Business
The Committee considered correspondence from the Chairperson which raised a number of issues in relation to Interreg IV.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 October 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.55 pm.