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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE HIGHER
AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE 1. Apologies PRESENT:Dr E Birnie (Chairman) IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mr C Jones and Mrs C McGrattan Mr Carrick, for late arrival and Mr. Hay. Rev Coulter and Mrs Nelis left early to attend other meetings in the Assembly. 2. Chairman’s Business (Closed Session)
Noted. The Committee’s submission on the Draft Equality Scheme had been agreed and sent to the Minister.
(b) Motion on New Deal
Noted. As agreed by the Committee, the motion on New Deal would be lodged with the Business Office. If selected at Tuesday 27 June meeting of the Business Committee it would be debated before the summer recess. If not, it would fall and would have to be laid again after recess.
(c) Evidence Session by Dr Davison Noted. A copy of the transcript of the evidence given by Dr Davison to the Committee on 15 June 2000 was contained in Members’ folders. Members should notify the Committee office of any errors.
(d) Press Release Agreed. Issue Press notice for today’s meeting.
(e) Consultants for Committee Enquiry Agreed. To use a consultant with broad experience, before using consultants whose expertise had a Northern Ireland focus. Dr Hilary Steedman, who has wide experience of European training systems and has published extensively over the last 10 years, was to give an evidence session on 6 July 2000. However, if the Minister is free to attend on 6 July, Dr Steedman will attend on 4 July 2000.
Dr Steedman’s main publications will be obtained by the Assembly library. The consultants proposed by Mrs McWilliams (Gaffikin and Morrisey) will also be considered as they have experience of the areas to be addressed by the enquiry. Assembly Research to be asked to trawl the Further and Higher Education colleges for potential advisers. 3. Evidence Session from Mr John Simpson (Open Session)
The Chairman welcomed Mr Simpson and asked him to give an overview on the Northern Ireland economy and the training systems within it. He was also interested in Mr Simpson’s views on how best to focus the enquiry. Following his opening remarks, Mr Simpson fielded questions from Members until 12:45pm. Dr Birnie expressed his appreciation to Mr Simpson and indicated that, as the enquiry proceeded, he may be asked to attend again. Hansard recorded details of this evidence session, the transcript of which will form an Annex to any Committee report which may be laid before the Assembly. 4. Minutes of Meeting on Thursday 15/6/00 (Closed Session) Agreed.
The Chairman has sent the Committee’s response on End of Year Flexibility to the Chairman of the Finance Committee. (a) Correspondence received from the Department about Estimates for 2000/01 for consideration at next meeting. (b) Next meeting set for Tuesday 27/6/00 at 12:30pm or whenever the House rises for lunch. Meeting closed at 12:50pm. ESMOND BIRNIE |