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HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2001 ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS Present: In Attendance: Ms Catherine McGrattan (Committee Assistant) Apologies:
Meeting opened at 2.10pm in closed session. The Clerk informed members that both the Chair and Deputy Chair had apologised for late arrival and it was therefore necessary to elect a Chairperson. The Clerk took the Chair. Mr Hutchinson proposed that Mr Dallat take the Chair; Mr Beggs seconded this. The question was put that Mr Dallat takes the Chair. This was agreed by all members. Mr Dallat in the Chair.
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed. Proposed: Roger Hutchinson. Seconded: Roy Beggs. Members considered a summary of the Department’s bids for the current round of allocations from the five Executive Programme Funds. It was agreed that the Clerk would produce a more detailed summary for examination at next week’s meeting. Members could then decide whether further action was necessary. Members were reminded that the paper was confidential.
Action: Clerk.
2.15pm. Mr Carrick joined the meeting and took the Chair. 2.20pm. The meeting continued in open session. It was agreed that the visit to Denmark would take place from Tuesday 13 – Friday 16 March 2001 and to travel by business class. This costed an additional £50 per person but offered more flexibility, for example a full refund could be obtained if flights had to be changed or cancelled. Dr Birnie; Mr Carrick; Mr Beggs; Mr Dallat; Mr Hay; Mr Hutchinson and Mr Kelly were available to travel. Mr Byrne; Ms McWilliams and Ms Nelis were unavailable. Clerk to check Ms Carson’s availability.
Action: Clerk.
2.30pm. Dr Birnie joined the meeting and took the Chair. 2.35pm. Ms Carson joined the meeting. Members considered a paper from the Chair and Deputy Chair detailing their views on the five documents currently with the Committee for consultation, as listed below. Members agreed with the views as expressed in the paper and accepted that members with specific interests could respond individually rather than through the Committee. The following action was agreed: "Unlocking Creativity" – as the Culture Arts and Leisure Committee would be responding as the lead Committee, the HFETE Committee would not respond. "Proposals to speed up Industrial Tribunals in Equal Pay cases and the implementation of the Burden of Proof Directive" – the Committee would respond on the proposals concerning the Industrial Tribunals, with the Committee of the Centre examining the implementation of the Burden of Proof directive. Officials would be asked to attend on 22 February and a response agreed at the meeting on 1 March. "National Training Organisations" – as this areas was relevant to the current Inquiry, the Committee would respond by 30 March. "Young Workers Directive" – the Committee would not examine this document. The Department of Trade and Industry’s Green Paper on "Work and Parents" - Assembly Research would be asked to identify any issues of particular relevance to Northern Ireland, before members decided how to treat this document. It could form part of a later Inquiry on those aspects specific to Northern Ireland, to enable the Committee to influence local policy. Members noted the response date of 7 April 2001.
Action: Clerk.
2.35pm. Ms McWilliams joined the meeting. Members agreed that an article from the Chairperson should be issued to the Editor of the Economic and Business Outlook.
Action: Clerk. Members noted a Research paper on the core functions of QCA, NICCEA and NICATS; the latter two would be giving evidence at today’s meeting. As part of the Committee’s Inquiry into "Education and Training for Industry," the Committee took evidence from Professor Peter Roebuck, Chairman; Dr Caroline Egerton, Assistant Director and Ms Diane Patton, Assistant Director. Representatives discussed the following areas with members:
2.55pm. Mr Kelly left the meeting.
As part of the Inquiry, the Committee took evidence from Dr Alastair Walker, Head of Education Services; Mr Roger McCune, Development Manager and Mr Cecil Holmes, Principal Officer. Members questioned representatives on the following topics:
The CCEA issued a policy document to members which was to remain confidential until the end of February.
4.15pm. Ms McWilliams left the meeting.
Members noted the advance copy of the 2000/01 Spring Supplementary Estimates and the 2001/02 Vote on Account received from the Finance and Personnel Committee. It was agreed that these were relatively small changes in expenditure, mainly in areas which were "demand-led." Members considered correspondence form the Department on the changes made to Phase 2 of the Walsh Visa Programme. It was agreed that Ms Nelis should pass details of a specific enquiry to the Clerk, and the Chair would then write to the Minister. Members noted further information requested from the Open University on the quality of teaching provided and the composition of Open University students. Members considered the following Statutory Rules which had been laid in the Business Office subject to negative resolution:
In addition, members also considered a proposed Statutory Rule at pre-draft stage, to increase the limits applying to certain awards of industrial tribunals, and other amounts payable under employment legislation. It was agreed that members would reflect on these pieces of legislation and inform the Clerk, if they wished to call officials for further briefing at next week’s meeting. Members were content with the policy issues of these four pieces of secondary legislation
The Chair informed members that, along with other Committee Chairs, he had met with Mr Gerry Loughran, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Mr Loughran will produce a paper on the establishment of conventions for sharing information with Assembly Committees. The Chair would also meet informally with Dr Kenneth Bishop to discuss the role of PhD qualifications in the labour market. Members noted the Northern Ireland Government Department’s response to the Northern Ireland Economic Council’s Report on "Publicly Funded R&D and Economic Development in Northern Ireland", which had been sent by the Minister. The complete document is available in the HFETE Committee Office.
The next meeting of the Committee is to be held on Thursday, 22 February 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152 in Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.40pm. Esmond Birnie |