COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: THURSDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2001
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA (Chairman)
Mr Mervyn Carrick MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mr Joe Byrne MLA
Mrs Joan Carson MLA
Mr John Dallat MLA
Mr Roger Hutchinson MLA
Prof Monica McWilliams MLA
Mrs Mary Nelis MLA

In Attendance:
Dr Andrew C Peoples
Mr Colin Jones
Ms Anne Colville
Mr Michael Meehan

Apologies:
Mr William Hay MLA

Meeting opened at 2.09pm in open session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Approval of draft minutes of 18 September 2001

Agreed. Proposed: Mr Dallat. Seconded: Mr Byrne.

3. Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry.

Members carried out the final reading of their Report on the Inquiry into ‘Education and Training for Industry’.
Executive Summary amended and agreed.

2.20pm. Mrs Carson joined the meeting.
2.35pm. Mr Hutchinson left the meeting.

Recommendations amended and agreed.
Introduction amended and agreed.
Review of Background Material amended and agreed.
Summary of Oral and Written Evidence – Findings, agreed
Conclusions amended and agreed.
Inquiry Report amended, agreed and ordered to be printed.

The Clerk was directed to lay a copy of the Report in the Assembly Business Office on Friday 21 September 2001.

Action: Clerk.

Members agreed that a motion would be submitted to the Business Committee asking the Assembly to take note of the Committee’s Report. The Committee agreed not to release a press statement until the debate in the Assembly. It was also agreed that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman would meet the Minister when the printed version is available. The Minister to be informed that the Report had been formally agreed by the Committee.

Action: Clerk.

The Committee agreed that the Report should be published in hard copy only, and issued to all those groups and individuals who had given oral evidence and/or submitted written memoranda and to the media. It should also be placed on the Assembly’s website.

Action: Clerk.

The Chairman was authorised to approve the minutes of today’s meeting.

4. Legislation

Members considered Statutory Rule 298/2001, together with the Report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. It was agreed that:

"the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered Statutory Rule 298/2001 – ‘The Students Awards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."

The Clerk was directed to inform the Business Office.

Action: Clerk

5. Date and Time of Next Meeting

On Thursday 4 October 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman were authorised to take forward any urgent business before the next meeting.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3.35pm.

Dr Esmond Birnie, MLA
Chairman, Committee for Employment and Learning
21 September 2001