COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA
In Attendance: Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Basil McCrea MLA
The meeting opened at 10:30am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Departmental Briefing on the Draft Budget
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, Sean McGarry, Student Finance Branch, and Maryann Smith, Financial and Business Branch, on the draft budget. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Members noted that the Minister will further brief the Committee on this issue at its meeting on 28th November and officials agreed to raise a number of issues with the Minister to be addressed at that meeting.
11:12am Mr Spratt left the meeting
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2007
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
The Chairperson updated Members on the joint presentation with the Education Committee on the Careers Strategy held in the Long Gallery on 16th November.
4. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to the Minister requesting that the Committee be kept informed of developments in relation to provision for disabled people in its programmes and funded provision.
Agreed: Further to correspondence from the Minister, Members agreed that the Committee visit a Jobs & Benefits Office to witness the delivery of front line services.
Members noted the invitation from the Department to attend its upcoming corporate planning event and undertook to inform the Committee Office of their intention to attend.
Members noted a request from the Chairperson of the OFMDFM Committee for the Committee’s views on the Programme for Government and the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Committee’s response will be agreed at the next meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that the University and College Union be invited to brief the Committee on its concerns relating to the higher education sector.
5. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Sean McGarry and Angela McAllister, Student Finance Branch, on the Statutory Rule “The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (SR 2007/442)”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Committee noted that the Rule was laid in the Assembly on 5 November 2007 and is subject to negative resolution.
12:02pm Mr Newton joined the meeting
Question put:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (SR 2007/442) and recommends that it be annulled by the Assembly.”
The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 3.
AYES
S Ramsey (Chairperson)
A Attwood
P Butler
A Lo
D McClarty
Claire McGill
NOES
N McCausland
R Newton
A Ross
The motion was accordingly agreed.
6. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a Departmental press notice issued on 15th November entitled “University Collaboration Promotes Excellence – Empey”.
7. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members were informed that the Northern Ireland representative won a bronze medal at the WorldSkills 2007 event in Tokyo, Japan, and agreed that the Chairperson write offering the Committee’s congratulations. The Deputy Chairperson will update the Committee on the event at its next meeting.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
12:17pm Mr Butler left the meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 28th November 2007 at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:18pm.