MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS THIRTY-THIRD MEETING
THE HIGHER & FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2000
ROOM 152,PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 16 November
2. Matters Arising
3. Evidence Session by Representatives of the Educational Guidance Service for Adults
4. Any other Business
5. Date of Next Meeting

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

Apologies: Mrs J Carson
Mrs M Nelis

Mr Hutchinson and Mr Hay (for early departure)

In Attendance: Mrs E Sung
Ms A Colville
Mrs C McGrattan

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 16 November 2000

Agreed as amended.

Proposer, John Dallat. Seconder, Roy Beggs

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2. Matters Arising

Committee Enquiry into Education & Training for Industry

Noted:

• The Clerk has sought a response from the Department, and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, in order to clarify where the responsibility for R & D into agriculture carried out at QUB and other Higher Education Institutions lies.

• Assembly Research have been asked to provide summary papers on NI University-based R & D, including RAE results; further education systems throughout the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; the interaction between the Social Security benefits system and the education and training systems in Northern Ireland.

• The Clerk has written to the enquiry advisers with details of Committee priorities and revised timescales as agreed at last week's meeting.

• A paper outlining the advantages of a study visit will be tabled for the meeting on 30 November.

Student Finance Debate

Discussed:

Members discussed the outcome of the Assembly debate on Student Finance on 21 November. On the positive side, members believed that the debate raised the profile of student finance. It had also explored issues in respect of how Statutory Committees stand in relation to the Executive, particularly as regards the policy consultation and advisory role of Statutory Committees. There was some concern at an apparent lack of consensus, during discussion on how Committee Members voted on the Minister's amendment. It was agreed to invite the Minister to appear before the Committee. A meeting would be sought with him, to discuss how to take forward the question of student finance in the best interests of students.

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3. Evidence Session by representatives of the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA)

The Chairman welcome the five members of staff from EGSA saying that their evidence before the Committee would be most relevant to the Committee's ongoing enquiry into Education and Training for Industry.

Eileen Kelly, Director;
Eleanor Speers, Deputy Director;
Mags Connolly, Co-ordinator, Basic Skills Unit
Kevin Donaghy, Co-ordinator, Project Funding Unit
Marian Cinnamond, Co-ordinator, Advice of Guidance.

All five witnesses made a short statement of their particular responsibilities. (The briefing was recorded by Hansard and will be made available on the Committee's website.) Members asked questions, inter alia, on the principles on which EGSA's work is based; how the organisation is funded, their role in funding projects by other bodies for provision of adult literacy and numeracy services; extending areas; and how the quality of the service provided by EGSA, was evaluated.

Agreed:

• Eileen Kelly agreed to respond in writing to Mrs Carson on the question raised, on her behalf, of how many people are involved in services provided/funded by EGSA in the Tyrone area.

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4. Any Other Business

Agreed:

(i) Press Notices: a press notice for the meeting of 30 November was agreed.

A press notice entitled "Committee Welcomes Assembly Support for its Report on Student Finance" was also tabled for discussion. Members agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk would reword the notice in light of the comments made for issue on Friday 24 November.

(ii) Training and Employment Agency - Agency Status

Agreed:

That the Chairman would write to and invite the Minister to speak to the Committee in relation to change of status of the T&EA. Members expressed their concerns about cost implications; whether the Minister consulted with anybody before he announced the change; timing - why the Minister had taken the decision before Quinquennial review.

(iii) Invitation to the Minister to address the Committee

Agreed

The Minister should also be invited to address the Committee before the Christmas recess on an update on the Walsh Visa Programme; and how the work of EGSA can be best supported.

(iv)Chairman's Diary Engagements

Noted:

• The Chairman reported back to Members on his meeting during the week with the NI Students Service Network.

Agreed:

• The Chairman seek to clarify when the Minister might be publishing his response to the student finance review, in light of rumours that the Minister would go public by 8 December.

Noted:

• A press notice advising of the recently published Labour Market Survey had been passed to members on 22 November. Copies of the report to be ordered for members and put in pigeon holes.

(v)New Deal Workshop

Noted:

The Minister would be informed that Dr Birnie and Mr Dallat would attend the New Deal Workshop on 30 November. Dr Birnie may have difficulty in attending, but as no other Members were available, he would let his name go forward. However, he may not be able to stay for the entire programme as he had to Chair the Committee Meeting at 2 pm.

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5. Date of Next Meeting

2 pm Thursday November 30 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings. Members were asked to attend on time.

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Signed:

Esmond Birnie
30 November 2000

ESMOND BIRNIE
Chairman of Committee

16 November 2000 / Menu / 23 November 2000