MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE TENTH MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON TUESDAY 13 JUNE 2000.

1. Apologies
2. Draft Minutes
3. Matters Arising
4. Discussion of the Department's Draft Equality Scheme
5. Committee Involvement
6. Student Funding Review
7. Chairman's Business
8. Any Other Business
9. Date of Next Meeting

PRESENT: Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr R Beggs (Jnr)
Mr J Byrne
Mr J Dallat
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Kelly
Mrs M Nelis

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mrs C McGrattan

1. Apologies:

Mrs McWilliams, Rev Robert Coulter.

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2. Draft minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 6 June 2000

Agreed.

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3. Matters arising from the Minutes of Proceedings 6 June 2000

1. The Chairman gave details of a letter dated 13 June he had received from the Minister, Dr Farren in response to his letter of 2 June. The Minister has agreed that Dr Davison and senior officials will brief the Committee on 15 June in respect of the Student Finance Review. The Minister will consider the Committee's request for an interim report on the options following consultation, including costings and timescales for implementation. He will provide a summary of responses received by the Department, but for reasons of confidentiality may be unable to release individual submissions.

2. Agreed

Clerk to seek advice on the powers of the Committee to call for submissions made to the Department in respect of their consultation document. The issue will also be raised with Dr Davison on 15 June and with the meeting with the Minister on 19 June.

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4. Discussion of the Department's Draft Equality Scheme

Agreed.

A composite Committee response to the Department's Draft Equality Scheme would be considered on Tuesday 20 June, to allow Members time to consider all of the papers submitted by Members to date. One further submission is expected before the end of the week.

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5. Committee Involvement

1. The Minister, in his 13 June letter, says he will consider how best to convey progress on the detail of the Spending Review to the Committee.

2. The Clerk requested information on year-on-year changes between estimate figures for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. The Department replied that the 2000/2001 estimates were only in draft form and the comparison would require disproportionate effort.

3. Agreed.

Members agreed to seek advice from the Department on trend information (percentage growth or decline in particular areas of the budget) across a number of years, as this would inform their budget scrutiny role.

4. Agreed

The Minister should be asked to appear before the Committee prior to recess (or immediately on return in September) to brief the Committee on the budget; including issues such as the decline in EU Special Support Programme funding; the Spending Review 2000; the Committee's input into supplementary estimates; the overall reduction in the provision of monies for New Deal; and the training budget in general.

5. Agreed

The Committee will ascertain the Department's policy in relation to Teachers (in Higher and Further Education) premature retirement.

6. Summary research on New Deal, with particular reference to NI, will be available to Members for next week's meeting.

7. Agreed.

The Clerk will provide advice on laying of a motion. The Chairman will draft a number of possible motions to reflect Committee concerns e.g. New Deal; vocational training, higher and further Education, in time for next meeting.

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6. Student Funding Review

Agreed.

Members will reflect on the outline statement from the Chairman for possible use on the Committee website.

Agreed.

Members agreed areas of questioning for the evidence session on Student Funding on 15 June.

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7. Chairman's Business

(a) A list of the Minister's retrospective engagements was presented to members.

(b) Agreed.

It was agreed to call Dr Anyadike Danes (NIERC), Bill Magennis (Chairman, Skills Task Force) and Tom Scott (T&EA) to give evidence on Skills to the Committee on 27 June.

(c) Agreed.

A letter from Alban Maginnis asking for comments in relation to the Draft Regional Development Strategy over the next 25 years would be circulated to members. The Committee will submit their response by 5 July.

(d) Agreed.

Additional points tabled by Mr Carrick, Mr Hutchinson and Mr Hay for inclusion in the terms of reference and any advertisements relating to the Committee's enquiry.

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8. AOB

The Committee resumed in closed session to discuss the appointment of advisers in respect of the Committee's response to the Review of Student Finance.

Despite the short notice, an approach would be made to 2 named advisers to brief the Committee Enquiry on 22 June. Members will be kept informed.

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9. Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 15 June 2.15 - 4.00pm. Dr Davison and officials to attend. Meeting to be recorded by Hansard.

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ESMOND BIRNIE
Chairman