COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
6 MAY 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Simon Hamilton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Fra McCann MLA
David McNarry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Vivien Ireland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Chris McCreery (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Jennifer McCann MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.04 am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 10.05 am.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 29 April 2009
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the composite request for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Members noted the papers from DFP on senior civil service pay and bonuses, which had been collated by the secretariat
4. Correspondence
Due to a delay in the arrival of the witnesses for the first oral briefing session, the Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Response on Public Accounts Committee Report on Shared Services;
Agreed: that the reports which accompanied the response will be copied to members when the Committee next considers each of the relevant projects;
- DFP: Response for Environment Committee on briefing by Chris Tuppen on British Telecom’s approach to reducing carbon emissions;
Agreed: to forward response to the Committee for the Environment.
5. Data Protection and Information Security Issues: Briefing from the Information Commissioner’s Office
The Committee was briefed by the following representatives from the Information Commissioner’s Office: Aubrey McCrory, Assistant Information Commissioner, Northern Ireland and Amanda Latimer, Senior Complaints Officer.
Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting at 10.10 am.
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.12 am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 10.42 am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 10.45 am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 10.57
Agreed: that DFP will be requested to provide an update on the implementation of the action plan and recommendations contained in the first report on the Northern Ireland Data Protection Review.
6. European Public Procurement Seminar on Sustainable Procurement: Assembly Research Briefing
The Committee received a briefing from Assembly Research in relation to the integration of social issues in public procurement.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.15 am.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 11.16 am.
Agreed: that clarification will be obtained from DFP on how social clauses on apprenticeships link the number and type of apprenticeships required to industry forecasts of need. It was also agreed to request DFP to provide a background briefing on Northern Ireland case law on social /environmental clauses.
7. Committee Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland: Scheduling of Oral Evidence Sessions
Members examined the list of organisations that were willing to give oral evidence to the Committee inquiry. The Committee was advised that the Social Economy Network had also made a written submission and was willing to give oral evidence.
Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting at 11.19 am.
Agreed: that an evidence session with the Central Procurement Directorate officials will be scheduled into the Committee work programme as soon as possible. It was also agreed that the following organisations will be called first to give oral evidence: Confederation of British Industry, Construction Industry Group for Northern Ireland, Bryson Charitable Group, Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Martin & Hamilton Ltd. The Committee agreed that further evidence sessions will be considered in September.
Agreed: that the secretariat will consider the practicalities of members visiting Bryson House and holding a Committee meeting at the venue.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.25 am.
8. Financial Provisions Bill Committee Stage: Consideration of Draft Report
Members considered the Committee’s draft report on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, as follows:
Agreed: that paragraphs 1-2 stand part of the Report.
Agreed: that paragraphs 3-9 stand part of the Report.
Agreed: that paragraphs 10-13 stand part of the Report.
Agreed: that the draft Executive Summary stands part of the report.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 11.30 am.
Agreed: that the appendices stand part of the Report.
Agreed: that the Report be the Fifth Report of the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Assembly for session 2008/09.
Agreed: that the Report be printed.
Members noted that a typescript copy of the Report will issue to DFP by the end of the week, in line with normal protocol. The Report will be published next week and copies issued to all MLAs.
Agreed: that the relevant extract from the draft minutes of today’s proceedings will be checked by the Chairperson and included in the Committee’s Report as ‘unapproved’ minutes of proceedings.
9. Correspondence (continued)
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- Central Finance Group: Corporate Balanced Scorecard 2009-2010;
- DFP: Correspondence from Minister to David Simpson MLA regarding valuation of compensation for pipe works in the Markethill/Armagh area;
- Correspondence to Clerk from Ian Paisley Jnr MLA regarding Report on DFP Official in DG Regio;
- Northern Ireland Environment Link: Correspondence enclosing Report on “Policy Priorities for Northern Ireland’s Environment - The Way Ahead 2009”;
- DFP: Response on Financing Strategic Investment;
Agreed : that the secretariat note of the session on Financing Strategic Investment will be published as an addendum to the minutes of proceedings of 1 April 2009;
- DFP: Implications of the Chancellor’s Budget for Northern Ireland;
- Assembly and Executive Review Committee: Letter to DFP Minister in relation to the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters;
Agreed : that the correspondence will be forwarded to DFP.
10. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until summer recess.
Agreed: that the oral evidence from representatives of the local building societies and mortgage lenders will be scheduled first and that further evidence will then be taken from the four main local banks.
Mr Paisley Jnr returned to the meeting at 11.40 am.
Agreed: that the current draft of the programme will be published on the Assembly website.
11. Any Other Business
Mr McNarry raised the issue of whether the Committee will have a role in considering the financing of the devolution of Policing and Justice.
Agreed: that the Committee will write to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to reiterate its interest in being kept informed of progress in this area, particularly in respect of any strategic implications for the Northern Ireland Block.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 13 May 2009 at 10.00 am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.44 am.