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TWENTY FOURTH 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, 1. Apologies (Closed Session) Joan Carson. Members in attendance and leaving early: Mary Nelis. 2. Draft Minutes of Meeting on 19 September 2000 Agreed. Proposed: Monica McWilliams. Seconded: Mary Nelis. 3. Matters Arising 3.1 Motion for Debate on Student Finance Noted. Draft motion for debate calling on the House to endorse the recommendations in the Committee’s report was tabled. Having benchmarked the Committee’s proposals against party policy contained in their submission to the Department, Sinn Fein Members would not be endorsing the Committee’s recommendations and intended to issue a Minority Report on this issue.
Agreed. Majority agreed that unanimous consensus had been reached previously, on the broad principles on which the Student Finance Report would be based. As there was no longer unanimity, discussion of the Report would be adjourned to allow Members to reappraise the recommendations with their own parties. All Members were aware of the strict timescales involved in forwarding the Report to the Department, and would revisit the issue on Tuesday 3 October 2000 to decide on the way forward. Chairman to draft and issue a Press Notice on the Committee’s behalf to publicly put on record the Committee’s view and would make a statement to members of the public who had been due to attend today’s open session.
3.2 Press Cuttings (Open Session) Noted. Clerk reported that the Information Office had advised that the Assembly Commission had been approached to authorise the upgrading of photocopying and staffing resources to provide an Assembly Press Cuttings Service, but had not agreed the proposal. Committee staff had started to provide daily summaries of the Department’s press cuttings to Members, who should then request articles of particular interest from the Committee Office. Newspapers were also being trawled and articles referring directly to the work of the Committee would also be distributed to Members each day. 4. Chairman’s Business
4.1 New Deal Debate
Noted. The Status Zero report "Young People and Social Exclusion in Northern Ireland," which was referred to in the Debate, was issued to all Members. The Debate in the House on 25 September had provided a valuable contribution towards improving the New Deal Programme for Northern Ireland. However its effectiveness had been reduced as the Minister’s speech had not covered some of the major issues arising from Members’ contributions to the Debate and Members had been denied the opportunity to question the Minister. Concern was raised over the Chairman’s support for benefit sanctions to add a compulsory element to the Programme for over 25s, when this had not been agreed in Committee. The Chairman stated that this was a personal reflection, and that a balance was needed to address those people who chose to be unemployed. Agreed. Chairman to write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s differing views in this area. He would also enquire why benefit sanctions may be imposed on over 25s, who are generally less flexible due to family commitments, when this is not being considered in Great Britain.
Noted. Another evidence session on New Deal may be included in the future depending on Committee priorities. Clerk to enquire from the Speaker’s Office whether, for future debates, it is possible to know in advance, the amount of time to be allocated to individual speakers.
4.2 Millfield - PFI Initiative
Noted. All Members had already been invited to BIFHE’s public signing of the PFI project at Millfield College on 27 September, at which the Minister will be speaking. A briefing will be requested from the Department on the Private Finance Initiative and included in the Work Programme for after Christmas. 5. Any Other Business
5.1 Date of Next Meeting Thursday 28 September at 2:00pm, to decide on the Committee’s priorities for inclusion in the Spending Review bids. In preparation for the meeting, Members will prioritise four areas for additional spending, two which would promote economic efficiency and growth, and two to promote equality and equity. The Clerk will liase with Assembly Research to determine whether an expert in the field can be obtained at short notice to provide further analysis on the figures provided by the Department. in open session to finalise Student Finance report. As discussion would include confidential information from the Department, the meeting would be in closed session until 3:30pm. Meeting concluded at 3.20 pm. Esmond Birnie 3 October 2000
ESMOND BIRNIE |