COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 01 MARCH 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Daithí McKay MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chariperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin 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 Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)
Mr Gareth Brown (Bursary Student)

Apologies:
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA

The meeting commenced at 1.25pm in open session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above .

Agreed: that the evidence session at Agenda item 4 is recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the website.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 23 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.

Mr Frew joined the meeting at 1.30pm.

Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill

The Committee noted a Response from DFP to the Committee’s request for comments on the written submissions received on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.

The Committee noted items of correspondence from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) regarding the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.

Agreed: to publish the correspondence from DFP, the ETI Minister and DETI on the Committee’s website.

The Committee noted previous correspondence from the DFP regarding the issue of a register of those with pleural plaques, which was raised during the evidence session with Dr Henderson on 23 February 2011.

4. Public Procurement Action Plan – Update on Implementation of Committee Recommendations – DFP Evidence Session

Members took evidence from Des Armstrong – Director, Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) and Aileen Edmund – Head of Policy and Business Planning Branch, CPD, DFP. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 1.32pm.

Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 1.44pm.

Agreed: that the witnesses will provide any follow up information as requested during the evidence session. The Committee will also forward additional issues to DFP for written response.

Agreed: to publish DFP’s update paper on the Committee’s website.

Agreed: the Committee’s response to CPD’s draft procurement guidance notes in respect of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Social Economy Enterprises.

5. Cost of Insurance – Assembly Research Update Briefing

The Committee received a briefing from Dr Jodie Carson, Assembly Research.

Agreed: the Committee requested that Assembly Research asks the British Insurance Brokers’ Association for five key measures which it considers could be taken to reduce the cost of insurance in NI. Assembly Research will also provide follow up information as requested by during the briefing. Additional information will be shared with other relevant committees as appropriate.

Members noted that the two factors which appear to be the most influential in terms of the cost of car insurance in NI are: disproportionate legal costs, as cases are excluded from the small claims courts; and the levels of compensation. The Committee recognised that both issues are outside DFP’s remit, but fall broadly within the remit of the Department of Justice.

Agreed: to copy the Research papers on this issue to the Committee for Justice and ask that it considers recommending that its successor Committee examines the legal costs and compensation issues in the new Assembly mandate.

Mr McNarry left the meeting at 2.20pm.

6. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered three proposals for Statutory Rules from DFP:

SL1 - Pensions Increase (Review) Order (NI) 2011

The Committee noted that, while this Statutory Rule must be laid in the Assembly, it is not subject to any Assembly procedures.

The Rate Relief (Energy Efficiency Homes Scheme) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (NI) 2011

Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under the Rate Relief (Energy Efficiency Homes Scheme) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (NI) 2011 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.

The Rate Relief (Low-Carbon Homes Scheme) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (NI) 2011

Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under the Rate Relief (Low-Carbon Homes Scheme) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (NI) 2011 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules:

SR 2011 No. 36 Rates (Unoccupied Hereditaments) Regulations (NI) 2011

The Committee noted that, in the Eleventh Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Examiner indicated there were no points to raise by way of technical scrutiny in relation to the Rule.

Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2011 No. 36 Rates (Unoccupied Hereditaments) Regulations (NI) 2011, and has no objection to the rule.

SR 2011 No. 42 Rates (Completion Notices) (Financial Adjustments) Regulations (NI) 2011

The Committee noted that, in the Eleventh Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Examiner indicated there were no points to raise by way of technical scrutiny in relation to the Rule.

Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2011 No. 42 Rates (Completion Notices) (Financial Adjustments) Regulations (NI) 2011, and has no objection to the Rule.

SR 2011 No. 43 The Rate Relief (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011

The Committee noted that, in the Eleventh Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Examiner indicated there were no points to raise by way of technical scrutiny in relation to the Rule.

Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2011 No. 43 The Rate Relief (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011, and has no objection to the Rule.

7. Correspondence

The following items of correspondence were noted:

• DFP: January 2011 Forecast Outturn Reports;

• DFP: Details of all Projects Submitted by the Cross Border Groups and the PEACE III Attitudinal Survey Questions;

Agreed: to copy extracts of the correspondence relating to INTERREG IVA to the ETI Committee for information.

• DFP: End of Mandate Letter from Permanent Secretary to Committee Clerk;

Agreed: that this matter should be considered in the Committee’s Legacy Report.

• Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (COFMDFM): PSNI Equal Pay;

• DFP: Response to Committee query regarding equal pay for PSNI Staff;

• COFMDFM: Arm’s-Length Bodies’ Accommodation;

Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP for response.

• 2011 Census Security: Report of the Independent Review Team.

The Committee also noted the following routine correspondence which had been emailed to Members prior to the meeting:

• Invitation from Housing Rights Service conference “Why Affordable Credit Matters”;
• DFP News Release: Wilson discusses rebalancing the NI economy with business leaders.

8. 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.

9. Any Other Business

10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9 March at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 2.28pm.

Daithí McKay, Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
9 March 2011.

23 February 11 / Menu