COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
Minutes of Proceedings
Wednesday,
28
January 2009
Room 152, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Simon Hamilton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Fra McCann MLA
David McNarry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Vivien Ireland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paula Sandford (Clerical Supervisor)
Chris McCreery (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Jennifer McCann MLA
Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.03 am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence session on the clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Civil Registration Bill will be recorded by Hansard as it forms part of the Committee Stage of the Bill.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 21 January 2009
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the outstanding requests for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP).
Members noted the letter and associated correspondence issued from the Chairperson to the DFP Minister regarding a proposed finance solution for roads maintenance schemes from the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI). In addition, the Committee considered correspondence relating to this matter from the Committee for Regional Development (CRD).
Agreed: that the correspondence received from CRD, dated 22 January, will be copied to DFP for clarification of the issues raised. The Committee also agreed to forward DFP’s response to the Committee’s letter on to CRD once received. In addition, the Committee agreed to copy its correspondence with the Minister on this matter to QPANI.
Members considered a draft response to the DFP Minister on senior civil service bonuses, which set out a number of issues of concern to the Committee.
Agreed: that the letter will be issued to the Department for a written response.
Members considered a draft letter to the Department on the role of DFP Supply in monitoring the completion of Post Project Evaluations (PPEs).
Agreed: that the letter, as amended, will be issued to DFP for a written response. It was also agreed that the correspondence will be copied to the Northern Ireland Audit Office through the Public Accounts Committee.
4. Mapping Activity within Land and Property Services
The Committee was briefed by the following officials from Land and Property Services (LPS): John Wilkinson, Chief Executive; Iain Greenway, Director of Operations; and Trevor Steenson, Director of Data, Information and Systems.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 10.30 am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.00 am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.01 am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.01 am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.01 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.08 am.
Agreed: that the Secretariat will enquire into the possibility of arranging a Committee visit to LPS in Colby House.
5. Civil Registration Bill Committee Stage: Clause-by-Clause Scrutiny
The Committee took evidence from Dr Norman Caven, Registrar General, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), DFP and Mrs Annette Gilkeson, Deputy Registrar General, NISRA, DFP. The session was recorded by Hansard.
The Committee undertook its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Civil Registration Bill as follows:
Clause 1 – Registration of births
Clause 2 – Infant children found exposed
Clause 3 – Issue of notice for information concerning births
Clause 4– Registration of father where parents not married
Clause 5 – Time limit on registration of still-births
Clause 6 – Registration of still-births where parents not married
Clause 7 – Re-registration of births of legitimated persons
Question: That the Committee is content with clauses 1 to 7, put and agreed to.
Clause 8 – Registration of deaths
On the basis of concerns raised in the evidence, the Department had made a commitment to give further consideration to a proposal from the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO)/ Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) for the range of information in death records to be extended to include parents’ names. DFP will consider this when drafting the new regulations, subject to any disproportionate burden that might be placed on persons registering deaths. The Committee welcomed the commitment given by DFP, whilst noting that the issue was not material to the consideration of clause 8.
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 8, put and agreed to.
Clause 9 – Issue of notice for information concerning deaths
Clause 10 – Short death certificate
Clause 11 – Discharge of functions of the Registrar General
Clause 12 – Reproduction of registers and replacement of lost registers, etc.
Question:That the Committee is content with clauses 9 to 12, put and agreed to.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.16 am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.18 am.
Clause 13 – Access to information relating to births and deaths
The Committee discussed concerns raised in the evidence of the provision that gives the General Register Office in Northern Ireland (GRONI) the power to extend the relevant periods for access to records (100 years in respect of births, 75 years in respect of marriages and 50 years in respect of deaths). The Department pointed to the need for flexibility in the future and that any changes would be made by means of subordinate legislation, which the Committee will have the opportunity to scrutinise.
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 13, put and agreed to.
Clause 14 – Correction of errors in registers
Members considered concerns which had been raised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the need for clarification on the registers which it holds. DFP had expressed a willingness to address this issue by defining the meaning of ‘register’ in the legislation.
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 14, subject to an amendment by the Department to insert a definition of “register” in Article 2 of the Births and Deaths Registration ( Northern Ireland) Order 1976, put and agreed to.
Clause 15 – Registration or alteration of child’s name
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 15, put and agreed to.
Clause 16 – Certified copies
Members noted that both CIGO and APGI had withdrawn their proposed amendments and accepted the Department’s assurances that GRONI had no plans to restrict access to registration data.
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 16, put and agreed to.
Clause 17 – Issue of short birth certificate
Clause 18 – Notification of births and deaths
Clause 19 – Entries in registers as evidence
Clause 20 – Refusal to give information
Clause 21 – Fees payable for searches, certified copies, etc.
Question:That the Committee is content with clauses 17 to 21, put and agreed to.
Clause 22 – Access to information relating to marriages and civil partnerships
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 22, put and agreed to.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 11.25 am.
Clause 23 – Notification of registration of marriages and civil partnerships
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 23, put and agreed to.
Clause 24 – Access to information in the Adopted Children Register
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 24, put and agreed to.
Clause25 – Access to information in the Gender Recognition Register
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 25, put and agreed to.
Clause 26 – Commemorative documents
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 26, put and agreed to.
Clause 27 – Record of Northern Ireland Connections
On the basis of concerns raised in the evidence by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department had explained that GRONI will maintain the register and all issues relating to an event (i.e. registering, deleting or accessing of records) will be conducted through the office in Northern Ireland.
Question:That the Committee is content with clause 27, put and agreed to.
Clause 28 – Interpretation
Clause 29 – Repeals
Clause 30 – Commencement
Clause 31 – Short title
Question:That the Committee is content with clauses 28 to 31, put and agreed to.
Schedule 1 – Events which may be recorded under Section 27
Schedule 2 – Repeals
Question:That the Committee is content with schedules 1 and 2, put and agreed to.
Members discussed other issues relating to accessing records and the GRONI charging policy that relate to the wider policy issues around civil registration. In addition, the Committee was advised by the Department that GRONI was included in DFP’s ‘Report on the Northern Ireland Data Protection Review’ and that it had implemented the recommendations within the report.
Members were advised that a draft report on the Committee Stage of the Bill will be prepared for the Committee’s consideration at an upcoming meeting.
6. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered outline proposals from DFP on the following subordinate legislation: The Rates (Maximum Capital Value) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put: That the Committee is content with the policy implications of the proposed legislation.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 1; Abstentions None.
AYES
Mr Hamilton, Mr McQuillan Mr Weir.
NOES
Dr Farry.
ABSTENTIONS
None.
Question accordingly agreed to.
Agreed: that no briefing session was required.
The Committee considered outline proposals from DFP on the following subordinate legislation: The Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put: That the Committee is content with the policy implications of the proposed legislation.
The Committee divided: Ayes 4; Noes None; Abstentions 1.
AYES
Mr Hamilton, Mr McQuillan, Mr O’Loan, Mr Weir.
NOES
None.
ABSTENTIONS
Dr Farry.
Question put and agreed to.
Agreed: that no briefing session was required.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP Minister: Budget Bill ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- DFP: Further information on green rebates in the social rented sector;
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (CETI): Draft Social Economy Enterprise Strategy;
Agreed: that the Committee has no comments to make at this stage on the Draft Social Economy Enterprise Strategy as the Committee’s Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland is at an early stage. However, it agreed that it will request that CETI keeps the Committee apprised of progress on the Strategy;
- DFP: Northern Ireland Executive’s response to the second Varney Review;
Agreed: that a more comprehensive response will be requested from the Department on the consideration of each of the recommendations in the Review report;
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11. 38 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11. 43 am.
- DFP: Further clarification on the potential clawback of European grants;
Agreed: that the correspondence will be copied to the following committees for information: Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Regional Development, Social Development and the Public Accounts Committee;
- Committee for Employment and Learning: Reply on Scrutiny of Public Procurement Practice in Northern Ireland and Training for Success Report;
Agreed: that the written submission will be considered as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland and that the Inquiry should include an examination of the Scottish experience of using social inclusion clauses in public contracts;
- DFP: Further information regarding Small Business Rate Relief Scheme;
- DFP: December Forecast Outturn Data;
Agreed: that further clarification will be sought from the Department on the projected underspend in the forecast figures received in January;
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.53 am.
- Committee for the Environment: Report on the Use of Public Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnerships in Northern Ireland, commissioned by the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA);
Agreed: that the Committee will acknowledge receipt of the report from the Committee for the Environment.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.57 am.
- Committee for the Environment: Response on Post Project Evaluations;
- DFP: Response to Committee for the Environment on UK Green Building Council Consultation;
Agreed: that correspondence will be forwarded to the Committee for the Environment;
- DFP: Response on issues relating to December Monitoring Round;
- DFP: Quarterly update on progress in implementing the Access to Benefits report;
- Ulster Bank Group: Announcement of Initiatives 26 January; and
- Brochure from BANKCheck - “Less for your bank means more for you”;
Agreed: that representatives from BANKCheck will be invited to give evidence to the Committee.
8. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until summer recess.
Agreed: that an invitation will be issued to representatives from the Carson McDowell legal firm to give oral evidence as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland.
Members were advised of a forthcoming DFP briefing session on the Access to Benefits report.
Members discussed the HR Connect reform programme, particularly in relation to the end-user experience.
Agreed: that information will be requested from DFP and from NIPSA on the HR Connect reform programme in relation to the end-user experience and that an evidence session will be scheduled with DFP officials.
Agreed: that the work programme, as amended, will be published on the website.
9. Any Other Business
Mr O’Loan requested further information arising from the DFP Strategic Stocktake evidence session on 21 January on issues relating to the Farm Nutrient Scheme.
Agreed: that a written response will be requested from DFP on issues relating to the Farm Nutrient Scheme.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 February 2009 at 10.00 am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.03 pm.
Mitchel McLaughlin, Chairperson,
Committee for Finance and Personnel.
4 February 2009