COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 12 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan 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 10.09am in open session.
1. Apologies
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA, Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
Agreed: that the evidence sessions with Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials and with representatives from Access to Benefits and Age NI, at agenda items 5 and 6 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 21 April 2010
Agreed: that the minutes be published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Composite Request
The Committee noted the composite request for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Cost of Insurance in Northern Ireland
Members agreed to commission a research paper on the Cost of Insurance in Northern Ireland (NI) based on the work already undertaken by the Consumer Council and taking note of any other relevant research. The Committee also agreed that the research paper should take account of examples of state sponsored insurance schemes, including those related to car insurance.
Construction Contracts Bill
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP responding to issues which the Committee had raised on the Construction Contracts Bill.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 10.10am.
4. Assembly Research Briefing: Considerations for reform of the budget process in NI
The Committee received a briefing on the Assembly Research paper: Considerations for Reform of the Budget Process in NI.
Agreed: that Assembly Research will provide further information as requested during the briefing.
Agreed: to forward the Research paper to DFP for response.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 10. 53am.
5. Review of the Budget Process 2008-11 (DFP Briefing)
The Committee took evidence on the Review of NI Executive Budget 2008-11 Process from the following DFP officials: Mr Richard Pengelly, Budget Director ; Mr Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division ; and Mrs Julie McIlhatton, Central Expenditure Division .
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.12am.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 11.21am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.42am.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.48am.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.49am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.56am.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 11.59am.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 12.00pm.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.02pm.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 12.03pm.
Agreed : that the DFP officials will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session, and also respond in writing to any follow up issues not already covered.
Agreed: to forward the DFP paper, together with the Assembly Research paper, to the other statutory committees and the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group for comment, and to help inform the Committee’s forthcoming Inquiry Report.
6. Access to Benefits Progress Review
The Committee took evidence on the Access to Benefits Review from the following witnesses: Mr Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, DFP; Mr Lenny Peden, Housing Executive Branch, Land and Property Services, DFP; Mr Patrick Minne, CEO Access to Benefits; Ms Zoë Anderson, Content Officer, Access to Benefits; and Ms Elaine Campbell, AgeNI.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.28pm.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 12.29pm.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 12.39pm.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information as requested during the evidence session.
Agreed: that the Committee will write to the Inter-departmental Working Group (IDWG) on the take up of rate relief to suggest that all appropriate Social Security Agency staff are equipped with the information necessary to signpost clients to the relevant benefits and reliefs that are available.
7. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee agreed that agenda item 8 would be considered next.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.44pm.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.45pm.
The Committee considered SR 2010 No.159 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (NI) 2010. Members noted the Fifteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, which raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny.
Agreed : that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2010 No.159 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (NI) 2010 and has no objection to the Rule.
The Committee considered SR 2010 The Draft Census Order (NI) 2010. Members noted the Fifteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, which raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny.
Members also noted correspondence from DFP which clarified the inclusion of a question on voluntary work in the 2011 Census.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2010 The Draft Census Order (NI) 2010 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly; and to notify the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister of this decision.
8. Committee Report on Public Sector Efficiencies - Consideration of Draft Report
The Committee agreed that agenda item 7 would be taken next.
The Committee moved into closed session at 12.46 pm.
Members considered a working draft of the Committee’s Report on its Inquiry into Public Sector Efficiencies.
Agreed: that members will forward comments on the draft Report to the Clerk by Friday 14 May and that the draft Report will be developed, taking account of points raised, and be brought to the Committee for further consideration at next week’s meeting.
The Committee moved into open session at12.48 pm.
9. Correspondence
The Committee considered the following correspondence:
- Committee for the Environment: Insurance Incentives;
Agreed: to forward the Consumer Council papers on the Cost of Insurance in NI to the Committee for the Environment and also advise that the Committee is due to hear evidence from the Association of British Insurers on Wednesday 16 June.
- Committee for OFMDFM: Europe 2020 Strategy;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP.
- DFP: Monthly Forecast Outturn Reports April 2010;
- DFP: Response to the Committee regarding external advisers;
Agreed: to seek further clarification from DFP on the remuneration of external advisers currently engaged by DFP Business Areas.
Agreed: to write to the other statutory committees requesting information on the number and remuneration of external advisers in each Department.
- DFP: Letter from Minister on Northern Ireland Civil Service Pensioners Alliance query on Equal Pay;
Agreed: to copy the relevant section of the Minister’s response to the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance for information.
Agreed: to write to the Minister requesting clarification on the budgetary provision for this year made by devolved arms-length bodies for the payment of back pay in respect of the Equal Pay claim; and request that the Minister considers establishing an independent process to review the anomalies arising from the Equal Pay settlement and communicate the reasoning for decisions in that regard
- Committee for Health, Social Services & Public Safety: Review of the Support Provisions for Carers;
- Committee for Social Development: Support for Carers;
- DFP: Letter from Minister on rate relief for pensionable carers;
Agreed: to copy the correspondence from the Minister to the Committee for Social Development and the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Agreed: to further consider the issue of Support for Carers at next week’s meeting.
- DFP: Prompt Payment of Departmental Invoices;
Agreed: to request clarification from DFP on the prompt payment of invoices.
- Northern Ireland Ombudsman: 40 th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet;
- Times Online: Open letter from Edward Leigh, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee-28 March 2010;
- The Frank Buttle Trust: Invitation to an event celebrating the work of the Frank Buttle Trust; and
- DFP: DFPs role in taking forward the development of economic strategy for NI.
10. Committee Work Programme
Members noted the following witnesses who have been invited to give evidence as part of the Committee’s ongoing Inquiry into the role of the Assembly in undertaking budget and financial scrutiny:
- Mr Simon Wakefield, Scrutiny Unit, Scottish Parliament;
- Professor David Bell, Budget Adviser to the Finance Committee, Scottish Parliament;
- Mr Chris Shaw, Financial Scrutiny Unit, House of Commons; and
- NI Audit Office.
Agreed: to forward the Assembly Research paper on resources for budget scrutiny in other legislatures to these witnesses when it becomes available for next week.
Members noted that, due to the heavy work programme, it may be necessary to extend the meeting on Wednesday 26 May and hold an afternoon session.
Agreed: to invite representatives from the Irish Bank Officials’ Association (IBOA) to brief the Committee on aspects of the banking crisis.
11. Any Other Business
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 at 10.00 am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.04pm.