COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THIRTY SECOND MEETING
TUESDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2000
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of Proceedings
2. Matters Arising
3. Consider Any Statutory Rules
4. Consider Any Bills
5. Correspondence
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of Next Meeting
Present: Mr James Leslie. (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Nigel Dodds
Mr Donovan McClelland
Mr Peter Robinson
Mr Peter Weir
Apologies: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Derek Hussey
In attendence: Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)
The Deputy Chairman took the Chair due to the absence of the Chairman and declared the meeting open at 2.40 p.m. The meeting was held in public session.
1.1 Minutes of Proceedings
1.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 21 November 2000.
1.2.1 Resolved: That the Department be asked for details of any other posts for which such pension provision needed to be made.
top2. Matters arising:
2.1 Extension of Committee Stage of Family Law Bill
2.1.1 The Deputy Chairman informed members that the Assembly had approved an extension of the Committee Stage of the Family Law Bill to 27 April 201. And that the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety had agreed to undertake scrutiny of Clauses 1 to 3 of the Bill under Standing Order 48 (2).
2.2 Ground Rents Bill (NIA Bill 6/99)
2.2.1 The Committee noted the publication of Report 1/00 (Committee for Finance and Personnel) Ground Rents Bill (NIA Bill 6/99).
2.3 Budget 2001/02 Report
2.3.1 The Committee noted the publication of Report 2/00 (Committee for Finance and Personnel) Draft Budget 2001/02.
2.3.2 Resolved: That press notice 268/00 be issued.
top3. Consider any Stutory Rules:
3.1 The Committee deliberated on three Statutory Rules before the Committee.
3.1.1 SR 333/2000 - Rates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. A negative resolution Statutory Rule made under Article 39A of the Rates (NI) Order 1977 that prescribes within which district rates must be made in any financial year, provides for the payments to district councils, and provides for the manner in which the products of domestic and non-domestic rates are to be ascertained.
3.1.2 Resolved. That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered the Statutory Rule 333/2000 Rates Regulations (NI) 2000 and has no objection to the Order.
3.1.3 SR 342/2000 Rates - The New Valuation List (Time and Class of Hereditaments) A negative resolution Statutory Rule made under Article 39A of the Rates (NI) Order 1977 that specifies 1 April 2001 as the time by reference to which net annual values are to be ascertained for the purposes of a new valuation list coming into force on 1 April 2003; and specifies hereditaments other than dwelling houses, private storage premises as the class of hereditaments to be revalued.
3.1.4 Resolved: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered the Statutory Rule 342/2000 Rates - The New Valuation List (Time and Class of Hereditaments) and has no objection to the Order.
3.1.5 SR - /2000 - New Valuation List. An affirmative resolution Rule made under Article 45 (1) of the Rates (NI) Order 1977 that will require the commissioner of Valuation to prepare and publish a new valuation list before 31 December of a year to be specified by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
3.1.6 Resolved: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered the Statutory Rule - /2000 New Valuation List and has no objection to the Order.
3.2 The Committee deliberated on proposals by the Department of Finance and Personnel to make two negative resolution Statutory Rules under powers conferred by the Superannuation (NI) Order 1972. They would allow staff employed by the NI Assembly Commission and by the Equality Commission to have access to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
3.3 Resolved: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel noted the intention to make Statutory Rules under powers conferred by Article 3 (4) and (7) of the Superannuation (NI) Order 1972 and has no objections to the proposals.
Mr Seamus Close left the meeting at 2.55 p.m.
top4. Consider any Bills:
4.1 Government Resources and Accounts Bill (NIA Bill 6/00)
4.1.1 The Committee deliberated on Clauses 10 to 18 of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill. The Committee was advised by Ms Eileen Regan and Mr Malachy Finnegan, Research Services.
Mr Nigel Dodds attended from 3.45 p.m.
Mr Seamus Close returned to the meeting at 3.58 p.m.
4.1.2 Resolved: That questions raised by members be put to the Department of Finance and Personnel.
top5. Correspondence
5.1 The tabled correspondence was noted.
top6. Any other business:
6.1 The Committee deliberated on the final Debate and vote on the Draft Budget on 18 or 19 December and a proposed Statement on the Revised Draft Budget by the Minister of Finance and Personnel on 12 December.
6.2 Resolved: That the Minister be invited to appear before the Committee on 12 December to speak on the Revised Budget and that he be asked to provide the Committee with details of the Budget in advance of his Statement.
top7. Date of next meeting
7.1 Resolved: That the Committee would meet on Thursday, 7 December at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber and on Tuesday 12 December at 2.30 p.m. in Committee Room 144 to continue consideration of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill and to consider the Revised Budget.
topThe Deputy Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.45 p.m.
JAMES LESLIE
Deputy Chairman
21 November 2000/ Menu / 7 December 2000