COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THIRTY FIFTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2000
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of Proceedings
2. Matters arising
3. Consider any Bills
4. Correspondence
5. Resolved
6. Private Finance Initiative
7. Date of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
Apologies: Mr James Leslie. (Deputy Chairman).
In attendence: Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Edel Gillen (Executive Support)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.45 p.m. The meeting was held in public session.
1. Minutes of Proceedings
1.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 7 December 2000. The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 12 December 2000, as amended to record the attendance of Mr Alex Maskey.
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2. Matters arising: 2.1 Letter from Chancellor of the Exchequer - NI Block Grant
2.2 The Committee deliberated on a letter dated 11 December 2000 from Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to the Chairman's letter dated 20 September on the Northern Ireland Block Grant.
2.3 Resolved: That the Committee would consider the matter further at its next meeting.
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3. Consider any Bills: 3.1 Government Resources and Accounts Bill (NIA Bill 6/00)
3.1.1 The Committee deliberated on Clauses 7, 8, 12 and 18 to 24 and Schedules 1 and 2 of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill (NIA Bill 6/99). Officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel appeared before the Committee and were questioned on the Bill.
3.1.2 The Committee deliberated on two proposed amendments to Clause 7.
3.1.3 The Committee considered the need make an amendment to introduce oversight arrangements to be undertaken by the Financial Reporting Advisory Board. The Department advised the Committee that was in agreement that such an amendment should be made but that it should avoid referring to a specific oversight body and that the proposed amendment would be best placed in the 'Miscellaneous' section of the Bill.
3.1.4 Motion: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that the Minister of Finance and Personnel should introduce an amendment to the Bill to require the Department to consult an advisory body of people with appropriate experience of financial reporting principles and standards before issuing guidance on the preparation of resources accounts and Whole of Government accounts.
3.1.5 The question being put, the motion was carried without division.
3.1.6 The Committee deliberated on a drafting error in subsection (6) and was advised by the Clerk that this would need to be corrected by means of an amendment.
3.1.7 Resolved: The Committee agreed that Clause 7 should be amended as follows:
page five, line three, leave out "Department" and insert "department"
3.1.8 Motion: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that it is content with Clause 7 as amended.
3.1.9 The question being put, the motion was carried without division.
3.1.10 The Committee deliberated on Clause 8.
3.1.11 Motion: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that it is content with Clause 8.
3.1.12 The question being put, the motion was carried without division.
3.1.13 The Committee deliberated on Clause 12. The Clerk advised the Committee that the proposal to amend page seven, line 23 "thinks fit" to read "may reasonably determine" was not considered at the meeting on 12 December.
3.1.14 Resolved: The Committee agreed that Clause 12 should be amended as follows:
page seven, line 23, leave out "thinks fit" and insert "may reasonably determine".
3.1.15Motion: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that it is content with Clause 12 as amended.
3.1.16 The question being put, the motion was carried without division.
3.1.17 The Committee deliberated on the proposed amendment to Clause 18 i.e. that - "The accounts of an authority or body which are not otherwise required to be examined and certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General should be open to his inspection if it appears to him that the body exercises functions of a public nature, has received significant public funds or is entirely or substantively funded from public money."
The Department advised the Committee that it was still awaiting comment from Legislative Counsel and the Comptroller and Auditor General on the possible impact of the revised wording.
3.1.18 Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Minister of Finance and Personnel be invited to speak to the Committee on the proposed amendment and that Clause 18 be considered again at the meeting on 9 January 2001.
3.1.19 The Committee deliberated on Clauses 19 to 24.
3.1.20 Motions: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that it is content with Clauses 19 to 24.
3.1.21 The questions being put, the motions were carried without division.
3.1.22 The Committee deliberated on Schedules 1 and 2.
3.1.23 Resolved: The Committee agreed that it was content with the following motions.
3.1.24 Motions: That the Committee reports to the Assembly that it is content with Schedules 1 and 2.
3.1.25 The questions being put, the motions were carried without division.
4.1 The Committee deliberated on the tabled correspondence.
4.2 Resolved: That the Committee would request a briefing on the quinquennial review of the Rate Collection Agency that is due to be completed by April 2001.
4.3 Resolved: That the Committee would forward the letter dated 18 December to the Minister of Finance and Personnel from the Chairman, Regional Development Committee requesting clarification on the economic appraisal of options for the Port of Belfast.
5. Resolved: That the Committee would consider the letter dated 11 December from the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the NI Block Grant at the next meeting.
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6. Any other business: 6.1 Private Finance Initiative
6.2 The Committee deliberated on a proposal by the Chairman to undertake an inquiry into the role of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in funding public services in Northern Ireland.
6.3 Resolved: That the Committee would consider the proposal to undertake an inquiry into PFI at the next meeting and that the Clerk would investigate the appointment of a specialist adviser to the Committee who has relevant experience of the implementation of PFI within the United Kingdom and Ireland.
7.1 Resolved: That the Committee meet on Tuesday, 9 January 2001 at 2.30 p.m. in Committee Room 144 to consider the Government Resources and Accounts Bill and other matters.
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The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.00 p.m. FRANCIE MOLLOY
Chairman
12 December 2000/ Menu / 9 January 2001