MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2002 AT 12.30 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 1.02 pm.
Present:
The Speaker
Mr P J Bradley
Mr I Davis
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Ms M McWilliams
Mr M Morrow
Mr C Murphy
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Mr D Watson
In attendance:
Mr A Rogers Principal Clerk of Business
Ms N Dunwoody Clerk of Plenary Business
Ms G Campbell Private Secretary to the Speaker
Observers:
Ms L Devlin Executive Liaison
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Mr J Wilson
1. SPEAKER'S BUSINESS
1.1 The Speaker welcomed Mr Jim Wilson to his first meeting as a Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
2.1 The minutes of the previous meeting of 19 February 2002 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Speaker's Meeting with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
The Speaker informed Members that he had met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 18 February 2002 to discuss the lack of legislation being introduced to the Assembly. The Speaker advised that a number of action points had been agreed as follows:
- FM and DFM had already put measures in place to try to speed up the processing of legislation and would continue to identify further ways in which this could be achieved.
- Departments would be encouraged to bring draft Bills to Committees for pre-legislative scrutiny at an earlier stage.
- Departments would be encouraged to aim for less "perfection" when drafting legislation and instead allow for more opportunities for amendment by the Assembly and by Ministers at Consideration Stage.
- FM and DFM will give consideration to the most appropriate way to expedite Executive business and liaise with the Business Committee.
- The Assembly will arrange workshops for senior civil servants involved in preparing legislation in order to examine how pre-legislative scrutiny might be made more effective and to examine ways of expediting legislation.
3.2 Motions - Debating Times for Private Members' Business
The Speaker drew Members' attention to a paper which had been prepared by the Clerk to the Business Committee proposing a draft rota for debates, based on party strengths. Members AGREED to give the matter consideration before discussing at the next meeting.
3.3 No Day Named List
At the meeting of the Business Committee on 19 February Members had requested that the Business Office identify No Day Named motions where the subject matter was no longer current or where the Member may wish to reconsider the wording. The Speaker reported that this work is ongoing.
4. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETINGS WEEK COMMENCING
4 MARCH 2002
4.1 Members discussed the Statutory Committee Business on the No Day Named list. It was AGREED that the changes to Committee membership, the motion on Appointments to the Assembly Commission, and the motion on the Report on the Energy Inquiry be taken. It was further AGREED (79 votes) that the Motion 'Second Report of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety' be placed on the Order Paper for Tuesday 5 March rather than the motion from the Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development 'Towards Supporting People Fund' (22 votes).
4.2 Draft Order Papers were then AGREED and indicative timings allocated for the sittings on 4 and 5 March 2002.
5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
5.1 Review of Arrangements for Assembly Sittings by Committee on Procedures
The Speaker informed Members that the Committee on Procedures was progressing a review of Standing Order 10 (Arrangements for Assembly Sittings) and also Question Time. Mr Conor Murphy, the Chairperson of that Committee, advised Members that his Committee saw merit in looking at a wide variety of issues relating to Assembly questions, including oral and written question procedures, and would welcome contributions from Members.
6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
6.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 5 March 2002, at 12.30 pm (or at the rise of the Assembly for lunch) in Room 106.
The meeting adjourned at 1.40 pm.
THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker