COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
NINETY FIRST MEETING
TUESDAY, 14 MAY 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance:
Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila Mc Clelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Shauna McDaid (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.07 p.m. The meeting began in closed session.
1. Chairman's business
1.1 The Principal Clerk presented the Committee's briefing papers for the day's business. The Committee discussed the briefing.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 2.10 pm.
2. Apologies
2.1 Mr Francie Molloy, Mr Billy Bell, Mr Derek Hussey, Mr Maurice Morrow.
3. Minutes of Proceedings
3.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 7 May 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 7 May 2002.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Committee noted the response from the Minister of Finance and Personnel to Committee in response to its enquiry regarding the absence of budgets in the Department of Finance and Personnel for the North South Ministerial Council and the Civic Forum from the 2001/02 financial year onwards.
4.2 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister in relation to assistance and guidance provided for Local Strategy Partnerships to make applications under the Peace Programme.
4.3 The Committee noted the response from the Minister for Finance and Personnel in relation to a letter from the Social Development Committee on consultation by Departments with Assembly Committees re Executive Programme Fund bids for Infrastructure. The Committee was also briefed on correspondence expected from the Minister on the review of Executive Programme Funds and commissioning further bids for Executive Programme Funds.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Chairman of the Social Development Committee and to copy the response to the other Departmental Committees and the Committee of the Centre. The Committee also agreed to forward the expected correspondence on the review of Executive Programme Funds and commissioning further bids to the Committees.
4.4 The Committee noted the acknowledgement from the Minister of its response to the Government Office Accommodation review consultation document.
4.5 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to the review of the International Adult Literacy Survey.
4.6 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister requesting briefing by Departmental officials on the implications of resource budgeting on water and sewerage.
4.7 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel in relation to the first report by the Public Sector Energy Committee and reusable energy sources.
4.8 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister stating its intention to oppose approval of a Fees Order for Land Registers due to current problems with service provision. The Committee also noted the response from the Private Sector to the Minister regarding the impact on mortgage lending in Northern Ireland due to backlogs in Land Registers.
4.9 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding progress with Needs and Effectiveness Evaluations and the timing for the presentation of the Executive's Position Report.
4.10 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister regarding the cost of capital charges and reinstatement costs for transferred lands and resources announced in the Chancellor's Reinvestment and Reform package.
4.11 The Committee noted the advance copy of the draft public consultation paper for the Review of Rating Policy.
4.12 The Committee noted the Assembly Legal Services advice to Committees regarding their powers in calling for the production of documents.
5. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.
5.1 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee on the five organisations which would be invited to give oral evidence in relation to its Inquiry.
6. Marriage Bill
6.1 The Committee was briefed on the draft Bill by Departmental officials Dr Norman Caven, Mr Stanley Campbell, Mr Gareth Johnston and Mr Michael Foster.
Mr Attwood attended the meeting at 2.37 p.m.
6.2 The officials answered questions from the Committee and discussed amendments and minor drafting points to be made to the Bill before it was introduced in the Assembly in June 2002.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 2.38 p.m.
7. Audit and Accountability Bill
7.1 Departmental officials Mr Leo O' Reilly and Mr Brian Delaney briefed the Committee on the consultation undertaken and information obtained in preparation for the introduction of the Audit and Accountability Bill.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.02 p.m.
7.2 The officials set out and discussed the key issues emerging from the consultation. The officials also discussed the Government's response to the Sharman Report.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
7.3 The officials answered questions from the Committee and advised the Committee that it hoped to present a draft Bill to the Committee immediately before the Assembly's Summer Recess.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward copies of the Department's briefing paper to the Audit Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the HM Treasury Economic Secretary regarding Public and Employers' Liability Insurance for small businesses.
8.2 The Committee noted the response by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the consultation on the Review of Government Accommodation.
8.3 The Committee noted the response by the Committee for Employment and Learning to the consultation on the Review of Government Accommodation.
8.4 The Committee noted the letter from the Department regarding the Working Proof of the Main Estimates 2002/03.
8.5 The Committee noted the Revised New Targeting Social Need Action Plan Quarterly update.
8.6 The Committee noted the response by the Committee for Education to the consultation on the Review of Government Accommodation.
8.7 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding the consequences of a prayer of annulment against the Social Security (DLA) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002.
8.8 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Chairman of the Committee for Education in relation to school capital building investment.
9. Any other business.
9.1 The Committee noted its updated business programme.
10. Date of next meeting.
10.1 The next meeting was agreed as Tuesday 21 May at 2pm.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 3.35 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman