Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10.08 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr John McCallister on his appointment as Committee member, and thanked Mr David McClarty for his contribution to the work of the Committee.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2011

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Departmental officials on the proposed consultation on ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education’

Mr Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, and Mr Kieran Mannion, Head of Higher Education Widening Participation Branch, provided more detailed information on the proposed consultation on an integrated regional strategy for widening participation in Higher Education by students from groups which are currently under-represented.

10.55 am Mr Sydney Anderson left the meeting

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

3. Matters Arising

• DEL Investing Activity – Departmental response

Members noted the above response.

• Apprenticeships Update for February 2011

Agreed: The Committee noted information provided by the Department on continuing and redundant apprenticeships, and agreed to request further details of maintenance payments to apprentices.

11.01 am Mr Peter Weir left the meeting

• Committee STEM/ KTP Breakfast Event

Members noted details of the programme for the event and guests attending.

• University Funding 1998-2011

The Committee noted more detailed information on funding for Higher Education, provided by the Department.

11.05 am Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting

4. Briefing from the Chairperson of the Independent review of Variable Fees for Students

The Committee received a briefing from Joanne Stuart, Chairperson of the Independent review of Variable Fees for students in Higher Education, on the recommendations of her revised report.

11.54 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
11.59 am Mr Paul Butler left the meeting

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.10 pm Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting

5. Briefing from Departmental officials on the Independent review of Variable Fees for Students

Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, and Claire Thompson, Higher Education Future Policy Branch, briefed the Committee on the recommendations of the revised report on the Independent review of Variable Fees for students in Higher Education.

12.15 pm Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting
12.18 pm Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.48 pm Mr Peter Weir left the meeting
12.48 pm Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting

6. Correspondence

Members noted one item of correspondence.

7. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at informal meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations received.

8. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of recent Departmental and other press releases.

9. Any Other Business

• Memorandum of Understanding between DEL and Ofqual

The Committee considered the above Memorandum and noted that Ofqual will come to brief Members on 23 February 2011.

• EGSA Annual report 2009-2010

The Committee noted the above Report

• DSD SL1: Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

Agreed: Members considered the above SL1 proposal, forwarded by the Social Development Committee, and agreed that they were content for the Department for Social Development to make the Statutory Rule.

• Forward Work Programme

• Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for February and March 2011.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 16 February 2011 at 10.30 am in Room 29, Parliament Building

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.01 pm.

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
16 February 2011

2 February 11 / Menu