Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr David McClarty 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:
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10.07 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Departmental officials on the December monitoring round submission

10.13 am Mrs Claire McGill joined the meeting

Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Director of Finance, briefed the Committee on the Department’s draft submission for the December monitoring round. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Finance and Personnel in support of the Department’s submission.

Agreed: It was also agreed by members to invite the Minister for Employment and Learning to brief the Committee in January 2011

3. Matters Arising

• Visual Awareness Training

The Committee noted correspondence from the RNIB publicising the availability of training in visual awareness for Further and Higher Education institutions

• Committee scrutiny of European Issues

Agreed: Members considered correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee on the above issue, and agreed to consider a response at its next meeting

• Role of the Executive in Brussels

Agreed: The Committee considered a response from OFMDFM to its request for clarification on the role of the NI Executive in Brussels, and agreed that useful contact details should be displayed on its website

• Student fees in Wales

Agreed: The Committee considered media coverage of the announcement of a fees subsidy for Welsh university students, and agreed to request a Research paper on government subsidies for student fees in the other UK devolved administrations.

• Education Maintenance Allowance

Members noted a press cutting referring to the plans to withdraw Education Maintenance Allowance in England.

• Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order

The Committee noted a response from the Department to Monica McWilliams, NI Human Rights Commissioner, outlining DEL’s proposal to make an additional SR to include the NIHR as a prescribed body for ‘whistleblowers’, and asking for her agreement.

• BMC Job Losses

The Committee noted news coverage of the Minister’s comments on job losses at Belfast Metropolitan College.

10.47 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting

4. Correspondence

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.

5. Briefing from Departmental officials on Student Fees and Finance

The Committee was briefed by Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education, and Claire Thompson, Higher Education Future Policy, on the development of a policy on student fees and finance. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. Officials agreed to provide further information requested by the Committee members.

11.43 am Mr Peter Weir left the meeting

6. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the Department’s intention to consult on subordinate legislation to implement the Agency Workers Directive (2008/104/EC).

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

11.51 am Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting

8. Any Other Business

• Forward Work Programme

Members considered the Forward Work Programme for December 2010 and January 2011, and noted the planned visit to the Automotive Academy on 8 December 2010.

• Chairpersons Liaison Group

Members noted the key issues discussed at the last meeting of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group.

• Hansard Transcripts on European Issues

The Committee noted Hansard transcripts forwarded by the OFMDFM Committee

• Child Poverty strategy

Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from OFMDFM, concerning the lack of input from DEL to the above strategy, and agreed to contact the Department about this issue

• Southern Regional College Press releases

Members noted two press releases recently issued by the Southern Regional College.

The meeting was suspended for a short break at 11.57am

The meeting resumed in closed session in Room 29 at 12.13pm

9. Committee Report on NEETS Inquiry

Agreed: The Committee considered the proposed recommendations of the report on its Inquiry into Young People Not in Education, Employment (NEETs) and agreed to reconsider the draft report after a number of amendments had been made.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Building

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.06 pm

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
15 December 2010

24 November 10 / Menu