Present: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA (Chairman)
Mr Mervyn Carrick MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mr Joe Byrne MLA
Mrs Joan Carson MLA
Mr John Dallat MLA
Mr William Hay MLA
Mr Roger Hutchinson MLA
Prof Monica McWilliams MLA
Mrs Mary Nelis MLA

In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples
Ms Stella McArdle
Mr Colin Jones
Ms Anne Colville
Miss Kelly-Anne Llewellyn

Apologies: Mr John Kelly MLA

Meeting opened at 2.05pm in open session.

Apologies

1. Apologies are detailed above.

2. Approval of draft minutes of 12 June 2001

Members noted that the Minister had provisionally agreed to meet the Committee on 5 July 2001, to discuss the review of the Department's advisory structures. The Department's draft Strategic Plan for 2001-2004 was issued, pending next week's briefing from officials.

Members noted that, as requested, the Fulton Report on Careers Education and Guidance would be forwarded by the Department.

Members noted that the Further Consideration Stage of the Department for Employment and Learning Bill was scheduled for 26 June 2001. Members noted the positive press coverage of the new title.

Members noted that the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment would be collating responses on the Research, Development and Innovation Strategy. The Clerk was directed to draft a response for consideration after the Summer Recess.

Action: Clerk

4. 4. Correspondence

Members noted the Department's response on the take up of Individual Learning Accounts, and information on careers guidance from the National Assembly for Wales.

2.15pm. Mrs Carson joined the meeting.

Members noted the Executive's Position Report on the Programme for Government, seeking views on any modifications required. Members agreed to issue a provisional response to meet the deadline of 6 July 2001, and that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman could, if necessary, take forward a further response over Recess. This would be circulated to members for agreement before issue.

2.30pm. The meeting continued in closed session.

Members discussed the implications of the less than acceptable staffing information received from Further Education Colleges.

2.35pm. The meeting returned to open session.

5. Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry

Members heard evidence on strategic issues in the further education sector from Dr Robson Davison, Deputy Secretary and Mrs Catherine Bell, Assistant Secretary, from the Department for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. The following areas were discussed:

- whether the decentralised approach had been successful for Further Education Colleges and areas where there should be centralised control;

- careers guidance in the Colleges encapsulated under Individualised Student Learning Agreements;

- the need for an expanded management information system to provide consistent information across the sector;

- proactive work undertaken to widen access to further education;

- an evaluation of the Collaboration Fund and the Access Initiative;

- whether there was a need for stronger public accountability in the sector;

- the accounts of the Further Education Colleges for 1999/2000; and

- staff morale in the further education sector.

3.15pm. Mr Dallat left the meeting.

6. Departmental Bids for 2002/03

Dr Davison and Mr Jim Russell, Principal Officer, Finance Division briefed members on the Department's bids for 2002/03. Following a short introductory statement, they answered questions in the following areas:

- the pay settlement for lecturers in further education;

- the increase in the Department's Central Administration costs;

- the objectives of the Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation of training and vocational education;

- movements within the Department's budget to deliver on the Programme for Government;

- the potential effect of the forthcoming Research Assessment Exercise on the Department's budget; and

- how the Department's spending plans have been affected by higher than anticipated uptake in Individual Learning Accounts and the Worktrack Programme.

- Members directed the Clerk to prepare a draft response on the Department's bids and the Programme for Government for consideration on 5 July 2001.

Action: Clerk

3.50pm. Prof McWilliams joined the meeting.

7. Any Other Business

Members agreed that the visit to Denmark should be arranged in week commencing 24 September 2001. The Clerk would take forward arrangements, depending on the availability of the Danish Minister.

Action: Clerk

9. Date and Time of Next Meeting

On Thursday 28 June 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4.00pm.

Esmond Birnie
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Chairman, Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment
28 June 2001

14 June 2001 / Menu / 28 June 2001