1. Minutes of Proceedings
2. Matters Arising
3. Committee Stage - Ground Rents Bill (NIA Bill 6/99)(cont'd)
4. Consider Any Statutory Rules
5. Correspondence
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of Next Meeting

Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 12 September 2000.

The Committee deliberated on draft letters to the Minister of Finance and Personnel and HM Treasury.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the issue of the letters.

The Committee deliberated on the draft letter to the Chairman of the Business Committee.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the issue of the letter.

The Committee continued its clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Ground Rents Bill. Ms Judena Goldring and Mr Neil Lambe, Office of Law Reform appeared before the Committee and were questioned on the Bill. The Office of Law Reform was supported by Mr Arthur Moir, Chief Executive and Mr John Gibson, Lands Register of Northern Ireland. The Committee deliberated on the Long and Short Title and Clauses 3 to 11.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider the Long and Short Title at the next meeting when the Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on amendment of the title.

The Committee agreed that Clause 3, subsections (1) to (6) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed to consider subsections (7) and (8) of Clause 3 at the next meeting. The Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on a proposed change to the Bill's definition of a flat, as provided by the Law Society of Northern Ireland in its letter of 15 September.

The Committee agreed that Clause 4, subsections (1) to (6) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 5, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed to re-consider Clause 6 at the next meeting. The Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on whether the aims of the clause could be achieved by means of a simpler process.

The Committee agreed that Clause 7, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 8, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill, subject to a recommendation that a motion be made to amend subsection (1) (b) as follows:

"page 6, line 15, after ( '(c.154)' ) insert ( '(' )"

The Committee agreed that Clause 9, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 10, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 11, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to seek an extension of the Committee Stage of the Ground Rents Bill to 27 November 2000.

No Statutory Rules were tabled.

The following correspondence was tabled: letter of 15 September from Law Society on Ground Rents Bill; DFP press notice of 18 September on revaluation for non-domestic properties in Northern Ireland; two letters of 15 September from Minister of Finance and Personnel on Repeal of Trading Stamps Act (NI) 1965 and on his Response to the Committee Report 'Inquiry into EU Structural Funds - The Peace II Programme', and one of 18 September on Financial Procedures: Estimates and Appropriation respectively.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the Minister of Finance and Personnel's intention to issue a consultation paper on the repeal of the Act and to consider the paper when the consultation exercise was completed.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider the Minister of Finance and Personnel's response to the Report at a later date.

The Committee deliberated on the issue of compensation to ratepayers that was raised in the Assembly debate of 11 September on the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis.

Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister of Finance and Personnel to seek information on the matter.

The Committee deliberated on the shortage of Committee staff and its adverse effect on Committee business.

Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman should raise the matter with the appropriate authorities.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, 26 September at 2.00 pm when the main item of business would be the Ground Rents Bill.