In attendance: Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila Mc Clelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Shauna Mc Daid (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)

The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.38 p.m. The meeting began in closed session.

1. Chairman's business

1.1 The Committee was briefed on information and guidance notes for a thematic approach to its Inquiry on European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.

1.2 The Principal Clerk presented the Committee's briefing papers for the day's business. The Committee discussed the briefing.

The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at.2.58 p.m.

2. Apologies.

2.1 Ms Lewsley.

3. Minutes of Proceedings

3.1 The Committee considered and agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 19 February 2002.

3.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 19 February 2002.

4. Matters arising

4.1 The Committee noted the letter from Mr Leslie on his resignation from the Committee following his appointment as a Junior Minister.

4.2 The Committee noted its press notice welcoming the public consultation on Building Regulations provisions including Radon Gas.

4.3 The Committee noted the note on outstanding correspondence prepared by the Committee secretariat.

4.4 The Committee discussed the response by the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding the consultation by the Department of Employment and Learning relating to proposed legislation on Flexible Working.

4.5 The Committee noted its letter to the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding the format of future progress reports on the Department's New TSN Action Plan.

4.6 The Committee noted the response by the Department in relation to sickness absence in NI Departments.

4.7 Resolved: The Committee agreed to revisit this item when a commissioned research paper was presented.

4.8 The Committee noted the Minutes of Evidence for the Chairman's appearance before the Procedures Committee and the recommendations by that Committee regarding procedures for Bills in the Assembly.

4.9 The Committee noted the response by the Minister in relation to the Review of Executive Programme Funds.

4.10 The Committee noted the response by the Minister in relation to the process, documentation and information associated with the Spring Supplementary Estimates and Vote on Account.

4.11 The Committee noted the response by the Minister in relation to the proposed Matrimonial Proceedings and Family Law Bill policy document.

4.12 The Committee noted the response from the Department in relation to outstanding questions on financial issues.

4.13 The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the centralisation of administration functions for Peace II Local Strategy Partnerships.

4.14 The Committee noted the response by the Department of Finance and Personnel to Mr Des Mc Conaghy's correspondence on the Budget and Public Service Agreements.

Mr Morrow attended the meeting at 3.07 p.m.

5. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.

5.1 The Committee considered the proposal for a thematic approach for its inquiry. The Committee was also presented with proposed letters and mailing lists.

5.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed the proposed thematic approach to its Inquiry on European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives subject to one amendment and for the issue of letters inviting written evidence to the proposed mailing list

5.3 The Committee considered the Minutes of Evidence by the Department of Finance and Personnel on Tuesday 12 February 2002.

5.4 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Evidence for Tuesday 12 February 2002 subject to one amendment on page 22.

5.5 Departmental officials Mr Bill Pauley, Dr Andrew McCormick and Mrs Catherine Daly attended the meeting and gave further evidence to the Committee on the Department's role in European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.

Due to a Division in the House the meeting was suspended at 3.26 p.m. Mr Weir and Mr Morrow left the meeting at 3.26 p.m. The meeting resumed at 3.50 p.m.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 4.02 p.m and Mr Morrow attended at 4.06 p.m.

5.6 The officials answered questions from the Committee.

6. Public Private Partnerships - Working Group.

6.1 Departmental official Mr Jim Livingstone attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the progress made to date by the PPP Working Group. The Committee was informed that the Group's debate on the issues was almost complete and it was hoped that its final report would be completed by 27 March 2002 and issued to the Executive Committee for comment before it was issued for public consultation. It was expected that, following the public consultation the Executive would make its policy decision in September 2002.

6.2 The Committee was told that the Working Group would address the social, economic and political issues relating to PPPs and would agree a definition of the term "Public Private Partnerships" that was appropriate to Northern Ireland's needs.

Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 4.56 p.m.

6.3 The official answered questions from the Committee and agreed to provide a copy of the Working Group's report to the Committee before the Executive agrees to the public consultation phase.

Mr Hussey left the meeting at 5.12 p.m.

7. Statutory Rule (Affirmative Resolution) - Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland 2002 - SR 2002 No. 26.

7.1 Departmental officials Mr Brian McClure and Mr Stephen Pearson attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the background and provision of the Order. The officials advised the Committee that the Rule had not yet been laid due to a delay in clearance by the Executive Committee.

7.2 The officials answered questions from the Committee.

7.3 The Committee considered the Order.

7.4 Resolved: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel considered the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 - SR 2002 No. 26 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.

8. Review of Public Administration.

8.1 The Committee considered the draft Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration and agreed to schedule this item for consideration in its Business Programme.

9. Committee Visit

9.1 The Committee noted the schedule for its visit to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 12 March 2002.

10. Correspondence

10.1 The Committee noted the correspondence from the Principal Clerk of Standards on declaration of interests by Members.

10.2 The Committee noted the letter from the Department regarding the further consultation exercise on the Department's Equality Scheme.

10.3 The Committee noted its letter to the Department of Finance and Personnel in relation to the proposed Regional Transport Strategy consultation document.

10.4 The Committee noted the correspondence from the Principal Clerk of Committees relating to the Review of the Effectiveness of the Civil Service and the scheduled meeting between the Chairman and the Review Team leader.

10.5 The Committee noted the response from the Department relating to Gender Imbalance in the Civil Service and agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment.

10.6 The Committee noted the correspondence relating to the consultation on the Draft Code of Practice and Draft Release Practices Protocol for National Statistics.

11. Any other business.

11.1 The Committee noted its updated business programme.

12. Next Meeting

12.1 The next meeting of the Committee was agreed as Tuesday 5 March 2002.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.30 p.m.

Francie Molloy
Chairman

19 February 2002 / Menu / 5 March 2002