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COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING Present: In Attendance: Apologies: Meeting opened at 2.08pm in open session. 1. Apologies 1. Draft Minutes of 18 October 2001
Proposed: Mr Beggs. Seconded: Mr Carrick. 3. Matters Arising
2.11pm. Mrs Carson joined the meeting. Members considered and agreed a draft response on the Budget for 2002/03 for issue to the Committee for Finance and Personnel. It was also agreed that the response should be copied to the Vice-Chancellors of both the University of Ulster and Queen’s University who had recently briefed the Committee on Research and Development issues.
Action: Clerk Members considered information from the Department on the September monitoring rounds and, following debate, agreed that the Clerk should obtain further clarification from the Department.
Action: Clerk Members discussed the implications of the recent decision by the Department for Education and Skills to suspend Individual Learning Accounts. It was noted that the Minister was currently reviewing the situation in Northern Ireland and had offered to meet with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Members agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister detailing the Committee’s views and take appropriate follow up action.
Action: Clerk Members considered and debated a draft response to the consultation on a Victims’ Strategy. The Clerk was directed to amend the response for issue to the Committee of the Centre, following the Chairman’s approval. Further information on the Department’s proposed input to the Strategy should also be obtained.
Action: Clerk The Chairman updated members on the new procedures for the issue of consultation documents to Assembly Committees.
4. Correspondence Members considered information from the Department, together with an Assembly Research paper, on the treatment of higher education students who had not fully paid fees due. Following debate, it was agreed that the Chairman would write to both the University of Ulster and Queen’s University, to highlight the Committee’s concerns, including the lack of consistency.
Action: Clerk Members noted the information requested from the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges on the membership of the College Employers’ Forum and the negotiating committees. It was agreed that these should be issued in response to the query previously received by the Chairman.
Action: Clerk 5. Any Other Business
2.52pm. The meeting continued in closed session. The Chairman updated members on his recent meeting to discuss the management and governance of Further Education Colleges. Members agreed that he should write to the Minister to seek further information in this area.
Action: Clerk
3.07pm. The meeting continued in open session. Members considered correspondence from the Minister on how the previous consultation on National Training Organisations was to be taken forward. It was agreed that additional information should be requested from the Minister on the specific recommendations for Northern Ireland.
Action: Clerk 6. Date and time of next meeting On Thursday 8 November 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings. The meeting will include a briefing from NATFHE.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3.15pm.
Dr Esmond Birnie, MLA |