COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
6 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Peter Weir MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Simon Hamilton MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
David McNarry MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 10.03 am in open session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions from Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) and Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) officials will be recorded by Hansard, and the Official Report published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 9 December 2009
Agreed: that the minutes be published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the composite request for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
4. EU Commission Taskforce Action Plan (DFP Briefing)
Ms Purvis declared the following interests: Board Member of Healing through Remembering; Board Member of Intercomm Ireland; Management Committee of the Ex-Prisoners Interpretive Centre; and Trustee of the David Ervine Foundation.
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Bill Pauley, Head of European Division, and Martin Tyrrell, European Division.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.40am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.44am.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 10.45am.
Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 10.47am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.09am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.10am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.14am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.19am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.23am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.25am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.34am.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.40am.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 11.40am.
5. Progress on EU Programmes (Briefing by SEUPB)
The Committee took evidence from the following SEUPB witnesses: Pat Colgan, Chief Executive; Shaun Henry, Director, Managing Authority; and Howard Keery, Director, Joint Technical Secretariat.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.42am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.42am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.43am.
Ms Purvis returned to the meeting at 11.44am.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 11.45am.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 11.45am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.51am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.52am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12 noon.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.03pm.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.06pm.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session, including progress briefings on a bi-annual basis.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding INTERREG funding for Innovation projects in the Regional Innovation Strategic Action Plan.
Agreed: the Committee will request a briefing note from DFP on the INTERREG funding for these projects.
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the joint DFP and SEUPB briefing paper to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
6. Policy Evaluation of Rating of Non-domestic Property (DFP Briefing)
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, Patrick Neeson, Rating Policy Division.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairperson left the meeting at 12.34pm.
The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair at 12.34pm.
The Chairperson returned to the meeting and took the Chair at 12.37pm.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 12.35pm.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP in response to queries regarding rating issues raised during the Committee’s meeting on 25 November.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, DFP, and Patrick Neeson, Rating Policy Division, briefed the Committee on the following proposal for subordinate legislation:
The draft Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) Regulations (NI) 2010.
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
The DFP officials also briefed the Committee on the following proposal for subordinate legislation: the draft Rates (Regional Rates) Order (NI) 2010.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will clarify details regarding the financial implications of the rule.
Some members expressed concern regarding the policy intention of the rule, given the forthcoming review of the 2010-11 departmental expenditure plans.
Question put: that the Committee is content with the policy implications of the proposed legislation.
The Committee divided: Ayes 4; Noes 3; Abstentions 0
AYES:
Mr Hamilton, Mr McCann, Mr McLaughlin and Mr Weir.
NOES:
Dr Farry, Mr O’Loan, Ms Purvis.
ABSTENTIONS:
None
The Chairperson (Ms McCann) did not vote.
Question accordingly agreed to.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Follow up to issues raised with Central Procurement Directorate on 25 November 2009.
- DFP: Response to queries on NICS Equality and Diversity Plan.
Agreed: that the Committee will invite DFP officials to give a further oral briefing on aspects of the NICS Equality and Diversity Plan, particularly around the methodology for assessing “fair participation”, including the practice of adjusting the Economically Active Population comparator in respect of educational qualifications.
- DFP: Letter from Minister regarding Equal Pay settlement for EO2 grades.
- DFP: Equal Pay Query for Retired Civil Servants.
Agreed: that the Committee will ask for a response to its previous request regarding the potential implications should a case be successfully brought to industrial tribunal.
Agreed: that the Committee will invite the Northern Ireland Pubic Service Alliance to give an oral briefing on the Equal Pay settlement.
- DFP: News Release- Minister visits new-style Land & Property Services Office.
- DFP: News Release- Pre-Budget Report brings little change for Northern Ireland.
- DFP: Letter from Minister regarding Accommodation Efficiencies
Agreed: that the Committee will request a briefing note on distances travelled to work by civil servants.
- DFP: Response on Services to Disabled People.
- DFP: Cabinet Office Review of Royston House Laptop Theft Incident
Agreed: that the Committee will consider this further during a future evidence session from DFP officials on data security issues.
- DFP: Response to Northern Ireland Manufacturing submission
Mr McCann left the meeting at 1.10pm.
- Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust: AGM 7 December 2009
- DFP: Post Project Evaluations (PPEs)
Agreed: that the response will be copied to the Social Development and Regional Development Committees.
- Committee for Education: Departmental Post Project Evaluations
- Citizens Advice: Invitation to Money Active Launch Event
Agreed: that members will respond individually to the invitation.
- Confederation of British Industry: Public Sector Pensions
- DFP: Follow up to issues raised on 2 December 2009
- DFP: Public Income and Expenditure Account 2009
9. Committee Work Programme
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister of Finance and Personnel on the Review of 2010-11 Departmental Expenditure Plans.
Members considered and approved a draft suggested timeline for Assembly scrutiny of the revised departmental expenditure plans.
Agreed: that the timeline for Assembly scrutiny of the revised departmental expenditure plans is circulated to the other statutory committees for information.
Agreed: the Committee will invite the Minister to discuss the Review of 2010-11 Departmental Expenditure Plans at its meeting on 13 January.
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until March 2010.
Agreed: that the draft of the work programme is amended to incorporate sessions relating to revised departmental expenditure plans, and that the revised version is published on the Assembly website.
10. Any Other Business
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP on options for rates relief for carers.
Agreed: that the Committee will request an oral briefing from DFP officials on this issue. The Committee will also invite representatives from Carers NI to give oral evidence on this matter in advance of the DFP briefing.
The Committee discussed the Barnett consequential for NI arising from the boiler scrappage scheme for England, announced in the Chancellor’s pre-Budget report.
Agreed: to seek information on what consideration the Department has given to the use of this additional funding. The Committee also agreed that it would be content for the additional funding to be used to create a similar boiler scrappage scheme for NI.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.29pm.