COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 21 APRIL 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA

In Attendance: Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 10.07am in open session.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

The Chairperson welcomed Jonathan Craig to the Committee. Members noted Mr Craig’s declaration of interests as recorded in the Register of Interests. Mr Craig confirmed that he had no additional interests to declare.

Agreed: that the evidence sessions with representatives from the Consumer Council and with Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials at agenda items 4, 5, 6 and 7 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 14 April 2010

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. Payment of Rates By Credit Card (Consumer Council Briefing)

The Committee took evidence on the payment of rates by credit card from the following Consumer Council officials: Julie McCurley, Head of Money Affairs; Joleen Cunningham, Senior Consumer Affairs Officer; and Alison Donnelly, Senior Consumer Affairs Officer.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Ms Purvis joined the meeting at 10.14am.

Agreed: to forward the Consumer Council’s briefing paper to DFP for response to the proposals for managing the risk of vulnerable consumers being drawn into credit card debt arising from the option of paying rates by credit card. The Committee will also request DFP’s response to additional suggestions and proposals made by members and witnesses during the evidence session.

5. Cost of Insurance in NI ( Consumer Council Briefing)

The Committee took evidence on the cost of insurance in NI from the following Consumer Council officials: Julie McCurley, Head of Money Affairs; Joleen Cunningham, Senior Consumer Affairs Officer; and Alison Donnelly, Senior Consumer Affairs Officer.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

The Committee noted the paper from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), outlining its position with regard to the Consumer Council’s report.

Agreed: that the Committee will provide the Consumer Council with a copy of the ABI paper.

Agreed: that the Committee sees merit in the Assembly undertaking an inquiry into the cost of insurance in NI, recognising that the subject matter cuts across committee remits as well as reserved and transferred matters. It was agreed that the Committee will take evidence from ABI to inform its considerations in this regard. The Committee will also engage with other relevant committees in due course, to consider the most appropriate way to take this matter forward.

6. Outcome of Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments (DFP Briefing)

The Committee took evidence on the outcome of the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans from the following DFP officials: Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group; and Paul Montgomery, Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 11.05am.

Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.18am.

Mr O’Loan joined the meeting at 11.21am.

Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 11.23am.

Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.24am.

Mr Craig left the meeting at 11.28am.

Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.31am.

Following the evidence session, Members noted that the Committee will receive a briefing on the outcome of DFP’s Review of the Executive’s Budget Process 2008-11 at its meeting on 12 May.

Agreed: that, following the evidence session scheduled for 12 May, the Committee will proceed with part two of Stage 1 of its Budget Scrutiny Inquiry, which is to consider and respond to the findings of DFP’s review. The Committee will also proceed with Stage 2 of the Inquiry regarding the capacity of the Assembly in budget and financial scrutiny.

Agreed: to invite representatives from the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons Scrutiny Units and representatives from the NI Audit Office to give oral evidence to Stage 2 of the Inquiry.

The Committee will aim to complete both stages in advance of the summer recess.

Mr Craig returned to the meeting at 11.41am.

7. Construction Contracts Bill – Pre-Introductory Briefing (DFP Briefing)

The Committee received a pre-introductory briefing on the Construction Contracts Bill from the following DFP officials: Stewart Heaney, Divisional Director, Construction and Advisory Division, Central Procurement Division; and Robin McKelvey, Construction Initiatives Manager, Central Procurement Division.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.45am.

Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.46am.

Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.52am.

Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.59am.

The Chairperson left the meeting at 12.05pm.

The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair at 12.05pm.

The Chairperson returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair at 12.12pm.

Agreed: the Committee approved a draft press notice regarding public consultation on the Bill, for issue upon the Bill’s referral to the Committee.

8. Feedback from Report on Public Procurement in NI

The Assistant Clerk briefed the Committee on press coverage and feedback from stakeholders to the Committee’s Report on the Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in NI.

Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 12.20pm.

Agreed: to invite the Strategic Investment Board to give evidence on its “toolkit” for incorporating social value in public procurement opportunities, via the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).

Agreed: that the detailed formal response from DFP to be provided after the Procurement Board have had an opportunity to consider and agree an action plan on 17 June.

Members noted the correspondence from the Minister, which stated that he considered 30 out of 52 recommendations could be accepted at this initial stage.

Agreed: to ask the Minister to outline, in the meantime, which of the 52 are being accepted at this initial stage.

Agreed: a draft press release on the response to the Inquiry Report, with one amendment. Members also agreed that additional options to increase media coverage of the Report should be considered.

9. Proposals on Support for Carers

The Committee welcomed the response from the Minister regarding rate relief for carers.

Dr Farry joined the meeting at 12.29pm.

Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.29pm.

Agreed: that the Committee will write to confirm that it is supportive of the Minister’s proposal to uplift the carers’ premium under the existing low income rate relief scheme.

Agreed: to request DFP to provide an estimate of the savings across all NI departments from the work carried out by carers.

The Committee noted the responses from all statutory committees regarding proposals to take this issue forward.

Agreed: to respond to the Committee for Social Development and the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on this matter, advising them of the Minister’s proposal in respect of rate relief.

Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.50pm.

Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.50pm.

10. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following correspondence:

• Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: prompt payment of invoices.

Agreed: to request an update from DFP on this issue.

• Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Independent Review of Economic Policy Implementation Plan.
• Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: meetings with Special EU Programmes Body.
• Committee for OFMDFM: Future Cohesion Policy and Structural Funds – Assembly Research Paper.
• Committee for OFMDFM: Draw down of European Funding – Seventh Framework Programme
• Belfast International Airport: Public Inquiry into runway at Belfast City Airport
• Cllr Michelle McIlveen MLA: Consultation on a Private Members Bill on Missing Children and Young People in NI
• Confederation of British Industry: CBI Annual Economic Briefing and Lunch
• Confederation of British Industry: “Leaner and fitter – boosting productivity in public services”.
• NI Law Commission: Consultation Paper, “Vulnerable Witnesses in Civil Proceedings”.
• Chairpersons’ Liaison Group: Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
• Chairpersons’ Liaison Group: Note of key issues and decisions taken on 23 March 2010.
• DFP: Clawback of European Grants – Update and Conclusion.

Agreed: to copy to the Committee for OFMDFM.

• DFP: Response to Assembly Research Paper on Systems Thinking.
• DFP: Response to Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL): The Way Ahead 2010.

Agreed: to forward a copy of the response to NIEL.

• SEUPB: Invite to PEACE III Conference 2010.
• National Energy Action: Invite to Fuel Poverty Breakfast Seminar.
• DFP: Budget (No2) Bill - various transfers between departments.
• DFP: Departmental Board costs.
• DFP: Response to issues arising from the Departmental Organisational Plan evidence session.
• DFP: Response from Minister on case for reduced rate of corporation tax in NI.
• DFP: Response from Minister on bike to work scheme.
• DFP: Monitoring of Efficiency Delivery Plans update.
• DFP: The Rating of Telecommunications Unbundled Local Loops.
• DFP: Response from Minister on the location of public sector jobs.
• DFP: Draft High Hedges Bill – Appeals Function.
• DFP: Bi-annual Progress Report on Managing Sickness Absence.

Agreed: to forward the report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• DFP: Performance in relation to committee requests (Quarter 4).
• Steven Smyrl: Civil Registration Bill update.

Agreed: to seek an update from DFP on the position with regard to the Bill.

• Committee for OFMDFM: Executive’s Advertising Policy.
• Quigg Golden: Legal Services Framework Procurement by NI Water (NIW).

Agreed: the Committee will forward the correspondence to the Minister for Regional Development, via the Committee for Regional Development (CRD).

• DFP: Independent Review Team Report on procurement in NIW.

Agreed: to seek additional information from DFP with regard to the anomalies between this report and the review of Centres of Procurement Expertise undertaken in September 2009. The Committee will also copy the correspondence to CRD, PAC and the NI Audit Office.

• NI Independent Retail Trade Association: Programme for Prosperity – Economic Programme for Government.
• DFP: Monitoring Post Project Evaluations Quarterly Update.

Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the other statutory committees and to PAC.

• DFP: Follow up to session on Workplace NI.
• Committee for Social Development: Uptake of Pension Credit

11. Committee Work Programme

Members noted the invitation to lunch with the Permanent Secretary and Board Members from DFP on 12 May.

Agreed: members will notify the Secretariat of their availability to attend.

The Committee noted the indicative list of DFP plenary business scheduled up until summer recess.

Agreed: that the draft work programme will be amended to reflect any Committee decisions and published on the Committee website.

12. Any Other Business

Members discussed concerns regarding the level of taxation on fuel, which could be considered to be an inhibitor to social and economic development in NI.

Agreed: to ask the Minister to consider making a costed proposition to Treasury on the case for a reduction of fuel duty in NI.

13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 at 10.00 am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.07pm.

Jennifer McCann, Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
12 May 2010