Apologies are detailed above.

Agreed. Proposed: Mr Carrick. Seconded: Mr Hilditch.

The Chairman informed members that the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum in relation to Statutory Rule 224/2002 clarified how parental contributions would be treated in the case of students who had recently got married. Members noted that the Committee was awaiting a reply from the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) on the means–tested element of the assessment of student loans.

It was agreed that:

The Clerk was directed to inform the Business Office and to notify DEL.

Action: Clerk

Members noted the Minister’s reply on the Walsh Visa Programme, together with further correspondence from Congressman Walsh’s Office.

2.20pm. Mr Dallat joined the meeting.

The Committee was briefed by Mr A Shannon and Mrs B O’Hare from DEL on the Department’s Forward Work Programme. Future progress on the following key issues was discussed:

• Student Support – the Minister had recently announced changes for the next academic year which would be subject to the Assembly’s approval of the draft Budget for 2003/04. The Department was currently working with the Education and Library Boards on simplifying the administrative arrangements relating to student support. Members noted that the outcome of the Westminster Review of this area was currently expected in November 2002.
• The Taskforce for Employability and Long-Term Unemployment - after receipt of the Committee’s comments, the Report and Action Plan would be considered by the Executive. DEL had bid for Executive Programme Funds to take forward this work and were currently preparing several targeted initiatives for implementation in Spring 2003.
• Research and Development – DEL had secured £25m from the Executive to fund the second Support Programme for University Research (SPUR 2). However matched-funding from the private sector could not be confirmed until Spring 2003. Members noted that the Department’s Research, Development and Innovation Strategy, which was due to have been produced by October 2001 had been delayed and should be sent to the Committee for comment by November 2002.
• Essential Skills Strategy – DEL were making final amendments to the quality framework which was due to be in place by the end of September 2002. The Department had concerns over whether they would be allocated sufficient funding to implement the Strategy fully in the future.
• Further Education Strategy – a draft document was with the Executive and would be forwarded to the Committee as soon as possible.
• Welfare to Work programme – the co-location of JobCentres and Social Security Offices continued to be rolled-out subject to budgetary constraints. Decisions needed to be taken in the future as to which Department would have ultimate responsibility for these offices and this may require primary legislation.
• Employment Bill – once the Bill was finalised, eleven major pieces of subordinate legislation would be forwarded to the Committee for their consideration before dissolution of the Assembly.
• Consultations – the Department may consult with the Committee by mid-October 2002 on Educational Maintenance Allowances. The Department also planned Equality Impact Assessments of the Worktrack and New Deal 50+ programmes.

Mr Shannon indicated that the Departmental Board would be reviewing progress against targets in their Annual Business Plan for 2002/03 in November 2002 and that a progress report would be forwarded to the Committee.

Mr Shannon updated members in relation to the Springvale campus. Members noted that some of the partners had doubts as to the long-term sustainability of the campus and the Minister had asked the Springvale Board to commission a study of other models which might be viable. It was also noted that the Executive remained committed to the project, subject to a viable proposal being approved.

Following the presentation, the following issues were debated:

• the shortfall in funding for university research and development, especially in comparison to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland;
• the pressure points which led to the decision to restructure the Department;

• the targets in the Essential Skills Strategy;

• DEL’s role in ensuring a supply of appropriately skilled workers, especially for local factories;
• when the Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation for Training and Vocational Education would be finalised; and
• whether eligibility for the Walsh Visa Programme would be extended.

Mr Shannon stated that an announcement would be made shortly on Departmental restructuring and he would issue the relevant information to the Committee.

Members considered their draft response on the Report and Action Plan from the Taskforce for Employability and Long-Term Unemployment in closed session as the Department had classified the document as ‘strictly confidential.’

3.25pm. Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
3.35pm. Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3.40pm. Mr Hilditch joined the meeting.

Following debate, the Chairman was authorised to approve the agreed amendments and arrange for the response to be issued.

Action: Clerk

It was also agreed to write to the Minister to determine the way forward on financing the implementation of the recommendations.

Action: Clerk

Members continued the final reading of their Report on the Committee Stage of the Employment Bill.

Members authorised the Chairman to approve the minutes of proceedings of today’s meeting for inclusion in the Report.

Members ordered the Report to be printed and directed the Clerk to lay two copies in the Assembly’s Business Office.

Action: Clerk

The Committee directed the Clerk to forward a copy of the Report to the Minister for Employment and Learning as soon as possible.

Action: Clerk

The Committee agreed that the Chairman should lay the Committee’s amendment regarding the Short Title in the Bill Office.

Action: Clerk

Members noted information from DEL on their bids and easements in the September 2002 Monitoring Round and that officials would brief the Committee on this matter at the next meeting.

Members noted a response from the Committee for Education on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses and agreed to forward this to the correspondent who had initially raised the query with the Committee.

Action: Clerk

Members noted the following correspondence:

• DEL’s Publication Scheme in relation to the Freedom of Information Act 2000;
• NUS-USI’s Student Press Pack 2002/03;
• a request from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety requesting approval to call DEL officials to give evidence on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill; and
• a paper from the University of Ulster on their Step-Up programme. The Committee agreed to support the proposal to widen the scope of the Programme.

Members considered a draft Forward Work Programme and, in addition to the items of business already scheduled, directed the Clerk to include the following:

• DEL’s Research, Development and Innovation Strategy;
• consultation on the Special Education Needs Disability (SEND) Bill;
• briefing on the ONE service;
• a briefing on DEL’s role in administering European Union funding;
• subordinate legislation stemming from the Employment Bill;
• developments at Springvale;
• the Programme for Government 2003/04;
• DEL’s Budget for 2003/04;
• a briefing on the Modern Apprenticeship programme;
• DEL’s review of Individual Learning Accounts; and
• DEL’s progress against their New TSN Action Plan.

The Committee agreed that they would not hold any meetings outside of Parliament Buildings before the Christmas Recess.

None.

On Thursday, 3 October 2002 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

19 September 2002 / Menu / 3 October 2002