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THIRTIETH MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING
AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE 1. Apologies Present: Dr E Birnie (Chairman) In Attendance: Mrs E Sung Mr Carrick, Mrs McWilliams (for late arrival), Mr Hay (for early departure). 2. Draft Minutes of Meeting on 19 October 2000 Agreed. Proposed: Roger Hutchinson. Seconded: John Dallat. 3.1 New Deal: Two letters have been sent to the Department. 3.2 Enquiry into Education and Training for Industry: The Chairman's paper attempts to identify priorities. Members were requested to consider this before the next meeting on 9 November. Fifteen submissions to the enquiry have already been received. The closing date is 15 November. The Committee agreed that the Chairman's paper should include reference to training systems in the Republic of Ireland, especially with reference to information technology, and RTCs. The Committee recognised that, although Standing Orders do not permit joint enquiries at present, the Committee on Procedures is considering this important issue. As regards literacy and numeracy, the Chairman has written to the Chairman of the Education Committee. A meeting will be assigned to consider issues of joint interest. 3.3 Budget and Programme for Government:
Noted and agreed The deadline for Committee views to be submitted to the DFP Committee is 10 November. The Clerk will draft a paper, for consideration at the 9 November meeting, incorporating points raised by members at this meeting. The Committee expressed regret at the tight timescales for scrutiny of the DFP budget proposals, and agreed that it was important to build, today, on preparatory work which had been done already. 3.4 Part-time Work Regulations: Noted These regulations were subject to confirmatory procedure. They were laid during suspension, therefore the Committee had not had time to complete its scrutiny. Departmental officials, and representatives of the Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions, would brief the Department on the Regulations at the next meeting on 9 November. Thereafter they would be debated in the Chamber. The Committee requested that the Assembly Legal Advisor should attend to advise on Committee duties in respect of legislation. The Chairman noted that the Clerk had commissioned work by Assembly researchers, on a background briefing paper to include a summary of the consultation exercise run by the Department, advice on passage of similar legislation elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and issues as yet unresolved. 3.5 Student Finance - Motion: Agreed The Committee discussed the wording of a motion to be submitted to the Assembly for debate, including possible timings of the debate. Members were unanimous in their resolve to gain maximum impact by their handling of the issue, for all the people on whose behalf they act, and that it should be subject to debate within the Assembly. Members recognised constraints on implementation, however they considered that this, their first report, on the issue, represented an important stage in consideration of the issues raised, including measures aimed at tackling loss of 35% of Northern Ireland's school leavers to universities elsewhere. The Committee agreed the motion for debate, to be laid by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman with the Business Office for consideration on 7 November, as follows: "This Assembly approves the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee's First Report on Student Finance, and calls on the Minister to implement the Committee's recommendations at the earliest feasible opportunity." The Chairman confirmed that the Report had been issued to all Assembly Members, was available to purchase through HMSO, and was published on the Northern Ireland Assembly website. 4. Briefing by Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment The following briefing took place in open session: - The Minister asserted that he believed the budget settlement secured by his Department was fair. However the application of the Barnet Formula meant disappointment in a number of areas. The Minister indicated a table of comparative needs which had been prepared for the Committee. - The Minister welcomed the Committee's paper to him expressing their views on his bids. He advised the Committee to take a strategic view of the percentage increases secured by him, and to note that the full year effect of additions secured in this year's budget should be reflected in later years. - Positive aspects of the settlement included:
- However certain aspects of the settlement were disappointing:
In the Committee's questioning of the Minister, the following points were raised: - The Committee expressed concern at the loss of resources to Community Projects. They expressed concern at the 15% reduction year on year. - In view of the proven problems of adult literacy and numeracy, the Committee expressed concern at the inadequate level of funding, and asked the Minister to explore what alternative resources were available. The Minister reiterated that the funding was not adequate, and that this would an issue he would continue to pursue through the Executive. - The Committee noted the importance of the Executive Programme Funds, and urged the Minister to encourage full take-up of these funds by his Department. For example, a pro-active approach to tackling adult literacy/numeracy, was a prime contributor to the social inclusion/community regeneration agenda. - The Committee queried the nature of the expansion of HE/FE places, and the accompanying student support arrangements. The Committee expressed concern that the budget allocation made no provision whatever for additional student support, and queried how additional places for priority, low access groups, could be provided, without additional funds for student support. - The Committee expressed concern that the New Deal allocation at £37.1 million left no flexibility whatsoever, and was considerably reduced on the current year allocation of £62.9 million. These issues were further discussed, at the Minister's request, in closed session. - The Committee again expressed disappointment at the lack of transparency in the information provided. It was almost impossible to follow the figurework, and the minimal amount of supporting information to the figurework provided, continued to pose problems in interpretation. - The Committee also expressed concern that similar problems, regarding provision of adequate information, were being experienced, to a greater or lesser extent, across the Statutory Committees. Committees had an important scrutiny role to play in respect of the proposals of the Executive. - The Committee noted the cross-cutting nature of the Executive Programme Funds, and of many aspects of the Programme for Government. However they were concerned as to how such cross-cutting areas would be scrutinised by Statutory Committees. - In relation to where, and in what subjects, the additional 200 places, and the 4,200 places already signalled in HE and FE were to be located, the Minister noted that it was not a matter for him to decide how, or where, these were going to be provided. He confirmed that at this stage he had not yet got firm proposals from the Higher Education Institutions, and that he was in discussion about the strategy for these places. At the Minister's request, further questions on the Budget for 2001/02, and the Programme for Government, were taken in closed session, from 3.35 pm. 5. Any Other Business (Open Session) 5.1 The Chairman asked for any further details on the Programme for Government and the Budget 2000/01 to be forwarded to the Clerk, to enable consideration of the Committee's response to the Finance and Personnel Committee. This response will be agreed at the meeting of 9 November. 5.2 Members agreed that photographs at and after the 19 October meeting would be added to the Committee website. 5.3 The Committee Clerk will inform the Business Committee of the current enquiry. 5.4 The Chairman reminded Committee members of previous discussion regarding making comments to the media about views of other Members. Meeting closed at 4.55 pm.
ESMOND BIRNIE 9 November 2000 |
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