COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill 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 Pat Ramsey MLA
The meeting opened in public session at 10.07 am.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 2 March 2011
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from Departmental officials on the allocation to DEL in the finalised Budget 2011 -2015
Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, briefed the Committee on the details of the additional £51m allocated to the Department in the final Budget settlement.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session, when the Department agreed to provide further details in writing for the next Committee meeting
3. Matters Arising
- European Social Fund (ESF)
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the Minister’s response on the application process for ESF to Action Mental Health for information. The Committee further agreed to write to the MEPs regarding the implementation by DEL of European Directives
Members noted further information on the appeals process in relation to the on-going appeal by the South-Eastern Regional College (SERC) against the ETI evaluation of its Essential Skills provision.
10.42 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
- Westminster Pensions Bill 2011 – Legislative Consent Motion (LCM)
Agreed: The Committee considered the above Motion and agreed that it had no objection to the LCM.
Agreed: Members considered the regular monthly update from the Department on the number of continuing and redundant apprenticeships in Northern Ireland and agreed to seek clarification from the Department on the name of one of the sponsoring bodies
- Titanic Quarter Work Plan
The Committee noted a request sent to the Department for further information on this issue.
Members noted correspondence from DEL clarifying the relationship between the Department and Ofqual.
Members noted correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee on areas for possible engagement with the EU.
- Draft Legacy Report 2007 -2011
Agreed: The Committee considered its draft Legacy report for 2007 -2011, and agreed that it was content for the Report to be amended and published on the website, subject to Members’ approval of a revised draft by correspondence.
10.57 am Mr Jonathan Bell joined the meeting
- St Patrick’s Day preparations
The Committee noted a paper from Queen’s University outlining the preparations underway to address anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick’s Day.
- Proposed merger between Queen’s University and Stranmillis College
Members noted the consultation document on the proposed discontinuance of Stranmillis College and its subsequent merger with Queen’s University.
- Response to Ministerial Statement on Student fees
The Committee noted the response from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster to the Ministerial Statement on Higher Education tuition fees and student finance arrangements.
4. Briefing from Queen’s University on impact of the Budget 2011 -2015
The Committee received a briefing from Professor Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tony Gallagher, Pro Vice-Chancellor, and James O’Kane, Registrar, on the impact of budget cuts to Higher Education on the staffing and resources of the University.
11.08 am Mr John McCallister left the meeting
11.34 am Mr Jonathan Bell left the meeting
5. Subordinate Legislation
- SL1 – The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee considered the above SL1 and was content for the Department to proceed to make the Statutory Rule.
- SR 2011 No. 70 – The Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee considered the above Statutory Rule, which has been laid in the Assembly.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered SR 2011 No. 70, The Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011, and has no objection to the Rule”
- Proposed Statutory Rules relating to the Employment (No. 2) Bill 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of a number of proposed statutory rules relating to the Employment (No.2) Bill 2010 until that Bill had received Royal Assent
6. Correspondence
Members considered a number of items of correspondence and agreed appropriate responses.
11.55 am Rev Dr Robert Coulter left the meeting
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
- Chairpersons’ Liaison Group
Members noted a Minute of the meeting of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group which took place on 1 March 2011
- Report of the OFMDFM Committee on Statutory Committee Activity on European Issues
Members noted the above Report
- Forum for Adult Learning (FALNI)
Members considered an information leaflet produced by FALNI.
Members considered the Committee’s Forward Work Programme up to the end of the Mandate
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Building
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.00 noon.
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
23 March 2011
2 March 11 / Menu
