COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 3 JULY 2002 AT 10.20AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McMenamin
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr D McClarty
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer)
Mr S Ball (Clerical Officer)
Ms C McGivern (Assembly Legal Adviser)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 10.37am: Mr M Bohill, Mr J Johnston and Ms A Aiken (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment).
In attendance for the public evidence session at 11.40am: Mr J Delargy.
In attendance for the public evidence session at 12.10pm: Sir George Quigley, Mr G Knight (Royal Bank of Canada).
In attendance for the public evidence session at 12.55pm: Mr P Larkin, Mr W Chambre (Premier Power).
The Committee agreed to open the meeting in private at 10.20am.
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
1. Minutes of the Causeway sub-Committee.
1.1 Members discussed the minutes of the last meetings.
Agreed - the sub-Committee minutes of 19 and 20 June.
2. Chairperson's Business
2.1 The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee on the issues raised at the meeting of 1 July regarding the development of the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre Site.
Agreed - that Mr Neeson and Mrs Courtney will attend the next meeting on 18 July.
The meeting went into public session at 10.35am.
3. Minutes of the Last Meetings
Agreed - the minutes of the meetings held on 25 and 26 June.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.40am.
4. Limited Liability Partnerships Bill
4.1 The Committee carried out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill. The clauses were read along with the related commentary in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum.
The Long Title was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the long title as drafted.
Clause 1 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 1 as drafted.
The Schedule was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the Schedule as drafted.
Clause 2 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 2 as drafted.
Clause 3 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 3 as drafted.
Clause 4 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 4 as drafted.
Clause 5 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 5 as drafted.
Clause 6 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 6 as drafted.
Clause 7 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 7 as drafted.
Clause 8 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 8 as drafted.
Clause 9 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 9 as drafted.
Clause 10 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 10 as drafted.
Clause 11 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 11 as drafted.
Clause 12 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 12 as drafted.
Clause 13 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 13 as drafted.
Clause 14 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 14 as drafted.
Clause 15 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 15 as drafted.
Clause 16 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 16 as drafted.
4.2 The Committee discussed the content of the draft report on the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill.
Agreed - that the report should include the oral evidence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Dr Michael Twomey together with the written submissions from Dr Twomey.
Agreed - the draft report on the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill and ordered it to be printed.
5. Open-Ended Investment Companies Bill
5.1 The Committee discussed the content of the draft report on the Open-Ended Investment Companies Bill.
Agreed - that the report should include the oral evidence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed - the draft report on the Open-Ended Investment Companies Bill and ordered it to be printed.
The meeting was adjourned from 11.00am until 11.37am.
Ms Morrice left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mrs Courtney left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mr Doherty joined the meeting at 11.37am.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.37am.
6. Bonds Financing for Infrastructure Projects
6.1 Mr J Delargy gave a presentation to the Committee on Bonds Financing and answered questions raised by Members.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 11.46am.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 12.01pm.
6.2 Sir George Quigley and Mr G Knight gave a presentation to the Committee on Bonds Financing and answered questions raised by Members.
6.3 Mr P Larkin and Mr W Chambre gave a presentation to the Committee on Bonds Financing and answered questions raised by Members.
The meeting was adjourned from 1.30pm until 2.07pm.
Dr O'Hagan left the meeting at 1.30pm.
The meeting recommenced in public at 2.07pm in Room 106.
7. Insolvency and Company Directors Disqualification Bills
7.1 The Committee discussed the written submission received on the Insolvency Bill.
Agreed - that it would not be necessary to take oral evidence relating to the Insolvency and Company Directors Disqualification Bills.
Agreed - to meet on 29 July at 10.30am to carry out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the two Bills.
Agreed - to give Assembly Research permission to reference the DETI Policy Memorandum February 2002 Paper in the Bill Research Paper on Insolvency.
8. Energy Inquiry Report
8.1 The Committee discussed the Minister's response to its Energy Inquiry Report.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 2.15pm.
Agreed - to issue a response to the Minister.
Agreed - to debate the Minister's response in the House and to prepare a Motion for debate.
Agreed - to defer discussion of the Caminus Report until after the summer recess.
9. Draft Energy Bill
9.1 The Committee discussed the Draft Energy Bill.
Agreed - to note the Draft Bill.
Agreed - to obtain legal advice in relation to bonds.
Dr O'Hagan rejoined the meeting at 2.46pm.
10. Fuel Poverty
10.1 The Committee discussed correspondence from the Committee for Social Development suggesting a joint approach on Fuel Poverty.
Agreed - to write to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures to raise the issue of a joint Committee approach.
Agreed - to issue a response to the Committee for Social Development.
11. Chairperson's Business
11.1 The Chairperson informed the Committee of issues raised at the Chairperson's Liaison Group on 25 June.
12. Employment Bill
Agreed - to note the Bill.
13. Education and R&D in Agriculture and Food Science.
Agreed - to note the Report.
14. Visit to Coolkeeragh Power Station
Agreed - the Press Release.
Mr Neeson left the meeting at 2.55pm.
15. Tourism Inquiry
15.1 The Committee discussed the tenders received from event co-ordinators for the Tourism Conference.
Agreed - the criteria on which the assessment of each tender would be based.
Mr Neeson rejoined the meeting at 3.10pm.
15.2 The Committee assessed each application.
Agreed - a successful candidate.
15.3 The Committee discussed the brief prepared by the Specialist Adviser for the overseas visit.
Agreed - that Members would submit any additional information for the brief to the Committee Office by 10 July.
15.4 The Committee were given a list of workshops for the conference and delegates assigned to each workshop prepared by the Specialist Adviser.
Agreed - that Members would analyse the paper and submit any comments to the Committee Office by 10 July.
Agreed - additional organisations that should be invited to the Tourism Conference.
15.5 The Committee discussed an invitation to an urban tourism case study organised by the Scottish Parliament.
Agreed - to write to all Members to ask if they wish to attend.
16. All-Island Energy Market
Agreed - to invite Viridian to give a presentation on the all-island energy market after summer recess.
17. Welsh Water Bonds
17.1 The Committee discussed the Assembly Research Paper on the use of bonds to finance the Welsh Water Service.
Agreed - to note the paper.
18. Draft Communications Bill
18.1 The Committee discussed correspondence relating to the Draft Communications Bill.
Agreed - to write to the Secretaries of State for DTI and DCMS.
Agreed - to write to the Minister regarding the rollout of broadband.
19. Date of next meeting.
19.1 The next meeting of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment will be held on Wednesday 3 July 2002 at 3.51pm.
The meeting closed at 3.50pm.
Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson