COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 03 NOVEMBER 2010
SENATE CHAMBER,PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Daithí McKay MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin 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 10.10am in open session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions at Agenda items 4, 5, 6 and 7 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
Agreed: to release the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) briefing paper relating to agenda item 4 to Professor David Heald in advance of his evidence session at agenda item 5.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 20 October 2010
Agreed: that the minutes are 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.
Review of Senior Civil Service Pay
Agreed: to publish the following documents on the Committee’s website as these will update the previous Committee papers:
- Committee submission to the Senior Salaries’ Review Body (SSRB) Review of Senior Civil Service Pay;
- SSRB Review Report; and
- Committee response to the Review Report.
Armed Forces and Veterans Bill
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.
Agreed : to seek the views of DFP on the Bill and its potential implications for the department, in advance of next week’s meeting.
Agreed : to forward the invitation for DFP officials to give evidence to COFMDFM to the Department.
HR Connect
Members noted that the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) had requested a copy of the DFP paper relating to the previous evidence session on HRConnect and any associated follow –up information.
Agreed: to provide NIPSA with the DFP paper and any associated follow-up information, as requested.
4. Implications of the Spending Review 2011 – 2015
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Mr Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division, and Ms Joanne McBurney, Central Expenditure Division. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr McKay joined the meeting at 10.14am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 10.46am.
Mr McNarry returned the meeting at 10.47am.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 10.48am.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information as requested by members during the evidence session.
Agreed: that the Committee will, through the Minister of Finance and Personnel, write to the Executive, seeking assurance that all Assembly statutory committees are provided with sufficient time to fully scrutinise the draft Budget; and also requesting a copy of the Executive’s latest draft Budget timetable.
Agreed: that the paper provided by DFP for this evidence session will be copied to the other relevant Assembly committees for information.
5. Spending Review & Budget 2010
The Committee took evidence from Professor David Heald, University of Aberdeen. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mr Frew left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.09am.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.15am.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 11.17am.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.26am.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 11.28am.
The Committee agreed to take agenda item 8 next.
6. Correspondence
The Committee considered the following correspondence:
- DFP: Invitation to NICS Live;
Agreed: that members will advise staff by the end of the week if they intend to attend this conference.
- COFMDFM: Play and Leisure Implementation Plan;
Agreed: that the Committee had no views to relay to COFMDFM on this Plan.
- DFP: Follow-up to Public Sector Efficiency Session;
- DFP: Reply to Committee for Regional Development regarding Procurement of the Rathlin Island Ferry;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Regional Development.
- DFP: Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme;
Agreed: to copy the correspondence to the Committee for Regional Development and the Committee for the Environment; and to write to DFP for clarification on the proposal for a replacement scheme.
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: concurrent meeting regarding banking issues;
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Electrical Installation Standards in NI;
- DFP: Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) Freedom of Information;
Agreed: to copy the correspondence to Mr Cooke who had initially raised this issue with the Committee.
Mr Frew returned to the meeting at 11. 31am.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.31am.
- DFP: Land and Property Services Response to Issues;
- Community Relations Council: Response to the draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration;
- Advice NI: People on welfare benefits bear brunt of Osborne Spending Review;
- DFP: Response to follow up questions on IT Assist, Records NI & Network NI;
- DFP: Response to Committee for Employment and Learning on the role of the SEUPB;
- Paul Frew MLA: Invitation to Long Gallery event on 8 November 2010;
- DFP: OFMdFM Resource Accounts;
Agreed: to copy the correspondence to COFMDFM.
- Mount Vernon Community Association: Letter to Chairperson on Budget 2010.
The Committee agreed to take agenda item 9 next.
7. Committee Work Programme
Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP requesting a postponement to the pre-introductory briefing of the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.
Agreed: to write to DFP expressing concern over the continued delay in bringing the Bill to the Assembly and the difficulty this creates in terms of ensuring that the Bill completes its passage through the House before dissolution; and to write to the key stakeholders advising them of the delay.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.40am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.40am.
Local Banking Issues
Members noted that the next concurrent meeting of the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to take evidence from the British Bankers’ Association will take place on Wednesday 17 November at 2pm in the Senate Chamber.
Agreed: that the work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
Members agreed to take agenda item 6 next.
8. Delivering Public Services in a time of Austerity: Evidence from Confederation of British Industry
The Committee took evidence from the following witnesses Mr Nigel Smyth, Director, CBI; Mr Terence Brannigan, Chairman, CBI; and Mr Richard Moore, CBI. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Ms Purvis returned to the meeting at 11.41am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.41am.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.41am.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 11.45am.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.49am.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.50am.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.56am.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 12.03pm.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 12.05pm.
Mr McKay returned to the meeting at 12.25pm.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.25pm.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.26pm.
Mr O’Loan joined the meeting at 12.37pm.
Mr McLauglin left the meeting at 12.41pm.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 12.50pm.
Agreed: to ask DFP to cost the proposals for alternative revenue sources detailed in the CBI document.
Members noted an update from DFP on Workplace NI.
Agreed: to request an update on the progress of the Capital Assets Realisation Taskforce from the Strategic Investment Board, through COFMDFM.
Agreed: to invite Professor David Bell, Budget Adviser to the Scottish Finance Committee and Professor Alan Barrettt, Economic and Social Research Institute to give evidence on the Spending Review and Budget 2010.
Agreed: that the Committee will consider the options for further engaging with stakeholders on matters relating to the Spending Review and Budget 2010.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 1.00pm.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 1.27pm .
The Committee agreed to take agenda item 7 next.
9. Industrial Derating – DFP Evidence Session
Members took evidence from the following DFP officials Mr Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division; and Ms Veronica Holland, Rating Policy Division. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 1.28pm.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 1.28pm.
Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 1.29pm.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 1.30pm.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 1.48pm.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 1.54pm.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 1.55pm.
Agreed: in principle that the proposal to retain the industrial derating provision is included in the draft Budget consultation document; that the Committee will consider its final position in light of the consultation outcome; and to recommend that DFP further explores the Skills Training and Research scheme, and for that proposal to also be included in the draft Budget document.
10. Any Other Business
Members noted correspondence from Queen’s University Students Union on the abolition of the Rate Relief Scheme for students.
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP for a response to the issues raised.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 November 2010 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 2.01pm.
Jennifer McCann, Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
10 November 2010
20 October 10 / Menu
