COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey 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:
None
The meeting opened in public session at 10.02 am.
Apologies
There were no apologies.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 16 February 2011 and 22 February 2011
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from Ofqual on its work in Northern Ireland
Dame Sandra Burslem, Chairperson of the Ofqual Board and member of the Ofqual Northern Ireland Committee, Joan Gormley, Head of Operations in Northern Ireland, and Ray Coughlin, Northern Ireland representative on the Ofqual Board and Chair of the Ofqual Northern Ireland Committee, briefed the Committee on the regulation of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
10.11 am Mr Sydney Anderson joined the meeting
10.24 am Mr Jonathan Bell joined the meeting
10.26 am Mr John McCallister joined the meeting
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
10.28 am Mr John McCallister left the meeting
3. Matters Arising
- DEL Action Plans for Children and Young People
Members noted the above Plans forwarded by the Department
- USDAW ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chief Constable regarding the above campaign, and agreed to forward it to USDAW for information
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence on European Engagement from the OFMDFM Committee, and agreed to reconsider this issue at a subsequent meeting.
Agreed: Members considered information provided by the Department on various allowances payable to trainees, and agreed to request further details
10.55 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting
10.55 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
4. Briefing from Departmental officials on the proposed merger of Stranmillis College and Queen’s University, Belfast
The Committee received an update from Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, and Billy Lyttle, Head of Higher Education Finance, on the progress which has been made towards the merger of Stranmillis College with Queen’s University.
10.57 am Mr Pat Ramsey rejoined the meeting
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
5. Consideration of the Committee response to the draft Budget 2011-2015
Agreed: The Committee continued its consideration of the Department’s draft Budget and agreed to finalise its response by the end of the week
6. Primary Legislation
- Legislative Consent Motion on the Public Bodies Bill 2011
Agreed: The Committee considered the above Motion and agreed that it had no objection to it. The Committee agreed to clarify the regulatory responsibilities attaching to the Department and to Ofqual.
7. Subordinate Legislation
- SL1: The Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee considered the above SL1 proposal, and agreed that it was content for the Department to proceed to make the statutory rule
- Labour Relations Agency Draft Code of Practice
The Committee was content to note this Code, which has been laid in draft in the Assembly.
8. Correspondence
Members considered a number of items of correspondence, including a letter from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, thanking the Committee for its actions on behalf of the university’s bid Confucius Institute. Members endorsed the actions taken in support of the bid.
9. 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.
10. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of recent Departmental and other press releases.
11. Any Other Business
- ETI Report on Essential Skills at SERC
Agreed : The Committee noted the receipt of the above Report and agreed to consider this issue at its next meeting.
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme up to the end of the Mandate
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 2 March 2011 at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Building
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.44 am
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
2 March 2011
22 February 11 / Menu
