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COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: THURSDAY, 11 APRIL 2002 Present: In Attendance: Apologies: The meeting opened at 2.06pm in open session. 1. Apologies Apologies are detailed above. 2. Draft Minutes of 21 March 2002 Agreed. Proposed: Mr Dallat. Seconded: Mr Beggs. 3. Matters Arising Mrs Nelis queried whether the recent £30 million increase in allocation to university research in England had any readacross to the Northern Ireland block. The Chairman explained that, as this was an internal movement of funds within the Department for Education and Skills, the Barnett formula did not come into play and there was therefore no corresponding increase in funding for Northern Ireland. 4. Correspondence Members considered the Minister’s response to the Committee’s submission on the Department for Employment and Learning’s (DEL) draft Service Delivery Agreement. Members expressed disappointment that, although the Committee’s submission had been extensive, DEL had dealt with very few of the issues raised in the finalised version. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister, outlining their concerns in this area. Action: Clerk Members noted information from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, outlining the future direction for the development of Service Delivery Agreements. Members noted a holding response from the Minister, acknowledging receipt of the Committee’s submission on DEL’s draft Annual Business Plan 2002/03. The Committee noted the Department’s intention to publish the finalised version in early April 2002. Members considered the Minister’s response to the Committee’s concerns at slippage in progress against key targets in the Annual Business Plan for 2001/02. The Committee noted that several of the key targets across a range of issues, had still not been achieved and agreed to write to the Minister again to highlight their ongoing concerns. Action: Clerk 2.20pm. Mr Hutchinson joined the meeting. Members considered the Minister’s response to an Assembly question on the ONE service, stating that the evaluation had been extended for a further year. Members agreed to request further details in this area. Action: Clerk The Committee considered correspondence from the Director of East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education relating to a new Further Education Centre in Larne. It was agreed to forward this to the Minister, reiterating the Committee’s support for an equitable geographical access to further education. Action: Clerk Members considered further information from DEL on the secondment of Mr I Walters to Action Mental Health. Whilst agreeing that the arrangement could be beneficial in its effect, members agreed to request further information. Action: Clerk 2.30pm. Mr Kelly joined the meeting. Members noted DEL’s e-business strategy and directed the Clerk to determine the key services to be delivered electronically by DEL in order to meet the Executive’s targets. Action: Clerk Members noted details from Lenadoon Community Forum of their Neighbourhood Regeneration Programme and agreed that it could be taken into account in the Committee’s consideration of the Taskforce for Employability and Long-Term Unemployment’s forthcoming Action Plan. Members noted information from DEL on the composition of governing bodies of Further Education Colleges. Members considered the Minister’s response to the Chairman’s query on the apparent inequity in the allocation of postgraduate awards by Education and Library Boards, in which she stated that she was aware of the differences in each area and was striving for uniformity. Members noted that further information was outstanding from DEL, and agreed to await receipt before deciding whether to take this matter forward. Members considered and debated information from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Review of Government Office Accommodation. Members agreed to return to this area at the next meeting and directed the Clerk to circulate background information to members. Action: Clerk 2.45pm. The meeting continued in closed session at the request of departmental officials. 5. Briefing from DEL officials on their draft Position Report on the Budget 2002 Process 2.50pm. Mr Kelly left the meeting. 2.55pm. Professor McWilliams joined the meeting. Members were briefed by Mrs C Hanna MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning; Mr A Shannon; Mr G O’Doherty and Mr J Russell on DEL’s draft Position Report on the Budget 2002 process. The Department’s bids for support from the Executive Programme Infrastructure Fund were also debated. 3.27pm. Mr Hutchinson left the meeting. 6. Briefing from DEL officials on Essential Skills for Living Members were briefed by Mrs C Hanna MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning and Mrs C Bell, Assistant Secretary, Further Education and Learning Policy Division on the Essential Skills for Learning Strategy. The Committee noted that the Strategy would be issued for public consultation and it was agreed that consideration would be given to it at that time. Action: Clerk 4.15pm. Professor McWilliams left the meeting. Members debated the key issues arising from the briefing on DEL’s bids for the Executive Programme Infrastructure Fund and directed the Clerk to draft a response for consideration and agreement at the next meeting. Action: Clerk Members debated the key issues arising from the briefing on DEL’s draft Position Report and directed the Clerk to draft a response for consideration and agreement at the next meeting. Action: Clerk 4.30pm. The meeting continued in open session. 7. Correspondence (continued) Members considered correspondence on the paper prepared by the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution’s Inquiry into the working of devolution. It was agreed that the Chairman should write, seeking that clarification on responsibility of issues within the Committee’s remit should be addressed. Action: Clerk Members noted correspondence from the Belfast Centre for Learning on Key Skills and Problem Areas. It was agreed that the Committee should give further consideration to this at a later meeting. Action: Clerk Members noted a report received from Healthy Cities Belfast entitled "Planning for a Healthy City" which outlines the health development planning process within the city over the past three years and represents the first integrated strategy for health development within the city. Members noted the contents of a Staff Attitude Survey conducted by the Association of University Teachers Ulster in December 2001. Members noted DEL’s response to a request, from the Committee, for clarification on various bids and easements contained within DEL’s February 2002 Monitoring Round. Members noted correspondence from the Consultancy Mentoring Works in connection with a Skills Sector Dialogue Report which they have been commissioned to carry out by the four countries in the United Kingdom. It was also noted that, due to the timescale for response, the Chairman had responded on behalf of the Committee as indicated on the copy questionnaire. Members noted the Northern Ireland Assembly document ‘Providing an Effective Research Service to Committees – Good Practice Guidelines". Members noted a response made by the Department of Finance and Personnel to the consultation paper on Statutory backing for Trade Union learning representatives. Members noted the Further Education Sector’s general screening of policies report. Members noted the contents of a letter submitted to DEL by the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation in response to the public consultation. It was agreed that we would return to this subject at our next meeting. Members considered DEL’s response to a request from the Committee for clarification on student funding arrangements. Following debate it was agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister seeking further clarification. Action: Clerk 8. Any Other Business Members noted that, in Scotland, the Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) have not reopened and that the Scottish Minister is still considering the way forward in respect of the ‘new/revised’ ILAs. Members approved the estimated expenditure of £8 per head for an Access Event being hosted by the Committee on 2 May 2002 entitled ‘Seminar on Widening Access to Higher Education in Northern Ireland.’ 4.37pm. Professor McWilliams returned to the meeting. 4.37pm. Mr Dallat left the meeting. Members noted a paper setting out possible areas of work to be undertaken by the Committee prior to the summer recess. It was agreed that this would be discussed at the next meeting. Action: Clerk Members considered a copy of an advertisement by the University of Ulster for an "Outreach Officer: North Belfast Community". It was agreed that the Chairman should write to the University seeking further clarification. Action: Clerk Members noted the contents of a letter from the Committee for Social Development on the Housing Inquiry ‘Homelessness’. It was agreed that the Chairman should write to the Chairman of the Committee for Social Development requesting a copy of their draft recommendations when available. Action: Clerk Members debated the contents of a letter from the Minister in response to a request from the Committee for further clarification on Further Education Colleges Recovery Plans. Members also debated the contents of a letter from DEL regarding the Committee’s press release on annually managed expenditure surrendered by DEL. It was agreed that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman should meet with the Minister to discuss these issues, as soon as possible. Action: Clerk The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4.40pm. Dr Esmond Birnie, MLA |