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TWENTY FIFTH MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE AT 2.00 PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2000 1. Apologies PRESENT: Dr E Birnie (Chairman) IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mr C Jones 1. Apologies (Closed Session) Roger Hutchinson. Members in attendance and leaving early: William Hay and Monica McWilliams. 2. Draft Minutes of Meeting on 21 September 2000 Agreed as amended. Proposed: John Dallat. Seconded: Joe Byrne. 3. Matters Arising 3.1 Programme for Government Spending priorities within the Programme for Government were debated, with a view to providing advice to the Minister on specific bids in support of these priorities. Due to the confidentiality of the information being discussed, Members were briefed in closed session by Gordon Welsh, an adviser with considerable experience in public expenditure, and considered a confidential paper produced by him on the basis of further information provided to the Committee by DHFETE (George O'Doherty). Agreed. The Committee expressed concern at the minimal amount of supporting information to the figurework provided, in confidence, by Mr O'Doherty. The Committee noted however that the draft Programme for Government, from which would flow spending decisions, would publish in early October, and that their response to the Minister should be made in advance of that. The Adviser's view, that to request further, more detailed information from the Department on the bids at this stage might unduly delay response, was accepted. Once the draft Programme for Government had been submitted to the Assembly, probably in mid-October, the Committee would ask for a further briefing from the Minister or the Permanent Secretary. Clerk to liase with Mr Welsh to draft a paper on priorities for further examination on 5 October. Following the meeting, the Minister would be informed of these priorities as soon as possible, as it was important for the Committee to add their support to bids in what they considered as essential areas.
Noted Committee members noted, from their experience on other Committees, that the extent of information made available by various departments to their Assembly statutory committees, varied from minimal to extensive. This briefing had informed this Committee on the Spending Review process, which this year would reset baselines for the three years ahead. Members noted the need for greater clarity on timing and extent of Committee input to spending decisions.
3.2 New Deal (Open Session) Noted. Minister's response on the options for revision of the New Deal Programme in Northern Ireland was tabled. Members would examine this and return to this matter in due course. Agreed. A letter was to be sent to the Chairman of the Education Committee to draw attention to problems of literacy, numeracy and the absence of basic learning skills in school leavers. The Chairman of the Finance Committee would be asked for his views on the major adjustment to the budget required by the review of Student Finance. It was important that both Committees were collectively pursuing the needs of students. In addition, the Finance Minister may be asked to attend in the future to provide his perspective on the demands made on his Department by the Programme for Government, including an overview of the bids made by DHFETE.
3.3 Forward Work Programme Noted. The Work Programme had been revised to account for the decision to revert to one meeting per week on completion of the Student Finance Report.
Noted and agreed. CBI had advised that Nortel wished to host the evidence session with the CBI on 19 October. As this was a formal evidence session to be recorded and open to the public, the Clerk will determine the suitability of their premises before responding. The five sets of witnesses due to attend the session on 9 November would be allocated specific time slots, similar to the arrangements for the recent session on New Deal.
The Committee had still not decided whether to undertake a European visit as part of their current enquiry. However the provisional dates allocated, (14 - 18 November) would not be suitable, as several party conferences were now scheduled during the period.
3.4 TEFL Noted. A copy of the letter from TEFL (QUB), requesting to meet the Committee, along with a draft response from the Chairman, was tabled.
Agreed. Response to be issued as drafted. 4. Chairman's Business
4.1 Legislation
Noted. The briefing from the Assembly's Legal Adviser was now scheduled for 5 October. There are 10 items of subordinate legislation which need to be addressed by the Committee.
4.2 Correspondence from the Minister Noted. Correspondence from the Minister was tabled. He had requested to meet with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman in advance of the launch of the Review of Student Finance, and had also given details of the restructuring of the Walsh Visa Programme. Agreed. The meeting with the Minister should be scheduled close to the formal launch of the Review due to the confidentiality of information being supplied. Clerk to clarify with the Department whether there had been a change in the administration of the Walsh Visa Programme in the USA. 5. Any Other Business
5.1 Press Release for 28 September Agreed as amended for issue after the meeting.
5.2 Date of Next Meeting Tuesday at 2:00pm - in open session from 2:15pm to discuss the Student Finance Report.
Noted. In the event of a break in consensus, DUP Committee Members would have to adhere to their party policy.
Agreed. The positions of individual Members would be further discussed at the next meeting. Meeting concluded at 4.25 pm. Esmond Birnie 5 October 2000
ESMOND BIRNIE |
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