COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Daithí McKay MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton 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 Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)
Mr Gareth Brown (Bursary Student)
Apologies:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.50am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions at Agenda items 6, 7 and 8 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 9 February 2011
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Composite Request
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.
Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions Bill)
The Committee considered how it should proceed on this matter in light of the Assembly’s decision on 14 February 2011 not to grant an extension to Committee Stage of the Bill, which the Committee had sought in order to ensure that it could undertake a full and proper scrutiny of the Bill. Members also discussed a draft Committee report which outlined: the work that the Committee had undertaken on the Bill since it was introduced to the Assembly; the evidence which remained to be taken; and the reason why the Committee was unable to report on the Bill, or on the provisions contained therein, in the nominal timeframe provided for in Standing Order 33(2), which expires on 28 February 2011.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.04am
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.05am
Agreed: to undertake formal consideration of the Committee’s draft Report on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill during this meeting and to take no further evidence on the Bill after the next scheduled Committee meeting on 23 February 2011.
Agreed: that witnesses providing the evidence scheduled up until 23 February 2011 would be advised that their evidence could no longer be used to inform a Committee position on the Bill.
The Committee undertook paragraph-by-paragraph consideration of its draft Report on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.
Agreed: that paragraphs 1 – 6 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraph 7, as amended, stands parts of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraph 8 stands part of the Report, with a minor consequential amendment being required to reflect the decision to take the scheduled evidence on 23 February 2011;
Agreed: that the Appendices stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that the extract of the unapproved Minutes of Proceedings of today’s meeting is checked by the Chairperson and included in the appendices to the Report.
Agreed: that the Report, as amended, be the Second Report of the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Assembly for session 2010/11;
Agreed: that the Report on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill, as amended, be printed.
4. Scrutiny Procedures for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and National Assembly for Wales Commission budget proposals – Assembly Research Paper
Members noted this Assembly research paper which will inform the Committee’s third report on the Inquiry into the Role of the Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure. An oral briefing on the paper would be provided at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: to forward the research paper to the Assembly Commission for its views on the matter, which can then be taken into account in the Committee’s Inquiry report.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.08am
The Committee moved into closed session at 11.08am
5. Executive’s Draft Budget 2011-15 – Consideration of Draft Committee Report
The Committee undertook paragraph-by-paragraph consideration of its draft Report on the Executive’s Draft Budget 2011-15.
Agreed: that paragraphs 1 – 11 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraph 12 stands part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 13-18, as amended, stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 19 stands part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 20-21 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 22-24 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 25-30 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 31-32, as amended, stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 33-41 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 42-47 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 48-54 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 55-58 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 59-62 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 63-66 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 67-70 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 71-72 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 73-75 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 76-84 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 85-90 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 91-98 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 99-101 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 102-107 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 108-112 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 113-119 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 120-123 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 124-127 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 128-134 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 135-141 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 142-143 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 144-147 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 148-152 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 153-156 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 157-160 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 161-166 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 167-178 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 179-186 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 187-198 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 199-208 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 209-234 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 235-252 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 253-261, as amended, stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 262-271 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 272-274 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 275-278 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 279-285 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 286-289 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 290-292 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 293-406 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 407-429 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that paragraphs 430-600 stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that the draft Executive Summary stands part of the Report;
Agreed: that the Appendices stand part of the Report;
Agreed: that the extract of the unapproved Minutes of Proceedings of today’s meeting is checked by the Chairperson and included in Appendix 1;
Agreed: that the Report, as amended, be the Third Report of the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Assembly for session 2010/11;
Agreed: that the Committee’s Report on the Executive’s Draft Budget 2011-15 be printed.
Members were advised that typescript copies of the agreed report would be laid in the Business Office for the attention of all Members and issued to DFP in order to meet today’s deadline for consultation responses. The printed copies of the report will be issued to all MLAs once available.
Agreed: that a copy of the Report be submitted to all relevant Assembly committees, to the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group and to those that provided written and oral evidence.
The Committee moved into open session at 11.33am
6. Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill – DETI Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI): Mr Trevor Cooper, Head of DETI Finance and EU Programmes Division and Mr Iain McFarlane, Accountant, DETI Finance Accounts Branch. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.37am
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.38am
Agreed: the DETI officials will provide the Committee with follow up information as requested during the evidence session.
Mr Frew left the meeting at 12.02pm
7. Civil Registration Bill – Proposed Amendments – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following officials from the NI Statistics and Research Agency: Dr Norman Caven, Chief Executive and Registrar General and Ms Annette Gilkeson, Deputy Registrar General. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: the DFP officials will provide the Committee with follow up information as requested during the evidence session.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.24pm
8. Outcome of February Monitoring Round – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Mr Mike Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division; Mr Peter Jakobsen, Central Expenditure Division; and Ms Deborah McNeilly, Finance Director, Finance Branch, Central Services Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Ms Purvis re-joined the meeting at 12.27pm
9. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered three proposals for Statutory Rules from DFP:
SL1 – Draft Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under the Draft Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
SL1 – Rates (Industrial Hereditaments) (Specified Percentage) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under the Rates (Industrial Hereditaments) (Specified Percentage) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
Agreed: to record Ms Purvis’ discontent with the system of Industrial De-Rating
SL1 – Draft Rates (Housing Executive) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: to request further clarification from DFP before this proposal is considered formally.
10. Correspondence
The following items of correspondence were noted:
- DFP: Data Retention Policy
Agreed : to forward the Committee’s queries and proposals on Data Retention to the Committee for Culture Arts and Leisure for onward transmission to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
- Letter from member of the public regarding Review of Data Security Briefing
Agreed: to request further information from DFP.
Agreed: to consider this issue further at the scheduled DFP briefing on Data Security on 16 March 2011, including any response from DCAL on the Data Retention Policy and any previous correspondence of relevance from the Public Accounts Committee.
- DFP: House of Lords EU Budget Review
- Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister: Capital Assets Realisation Taskforce Update
- Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister: Sustainable Development Commission
Agreed: that the Committee will not be making a response on this matter.
- DFP: Draft Spending and Savings Plans 2011-15 and Business Plan 2011-12
- DFP: Post Project Evaluations
Agreed: to copy the correspondence to other statutory committees for information.
- Public Bodies Bill – Legislative Consent Motion
Agreed: that members are content with the information provided by DFP in respect of the Public Bodies Bill - Legislative Consent Motion.
11. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme.
Agreed: that the work programme is amended to reflect any decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
12. Any Other Business
13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd February 2011 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 12.57pm.
David McNarry, Deputy Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
23 February 2011
09 February 11 / Menu
