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
Mrs Mary Nelis MLA

In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples
Ms Hilary Bogle
Mr Michael Meehan
Mr John McVey, Northern Ireland Assembly Research

Meeting opened at12.35pm in open session.

1. Apologies
No apologies received.

12.36pm Mrs Carson joined the meeting.

2. Draft Minutes of 6 December 2001
Agreed. Proposed: Mrs Nelis Seconded: Mr Carrick.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister confirming the amalgamation of the Further Education Consultative Committee and the Training and Employment Agency, which has been renamed the 'Learning and Skills Advisory Board'.

12.38pm Mr Hay joined the meeting.

4. Briefing from Professor L Todd on Adult Basic Skills

Professor Todd, Director, New English World Research, briefed the Committee on research she had carried out, on behalf of Bloomsbury/Encarta, to test the spelling ability of young people throughout the UK. Following a short presentation, the following issues were debated:-

• The decline in correct spelling.

12.58pm Mr Hutchinson joined the meeting

• Addressing the problem in Northern Ireland from two standpoints (i) older people; and (ii) primary education.

• The influence of the context of written material on children's ability to be literate.

• Differentiation of dyslexia and spelling ability.

• Correlation between poor levels of literacy and modern teaching methods and the impact of the television - 'generation of viewers as opposed to a generation of readers'.

• The potential use of Information Technology in developing literary skills with adults.

• Discrepancies in results between the Programme for International Assessment Survey and the survey carried out as part of the International Adult Literacy Survey.

1.28pm Mr Byrne left the meeting

It was agreed that the Chairman would write to the Minister to ensure that the Department for Employment and Learning give consideration to issues relating to spelling within its current basic skills strategy and pass on a copy of the material given to the Committee by Professor Todd. The Committee also agreed that a copy of the Hansard transcript should be forwarded to the Committee for Education.

1.31pm Mr Hay left the meeting.

Action: Clerk

• Dismissal by reason of a transfer of an undertaking with particular reference to Regulation 8(2) which relates to those cases which cover an Economic, Technical or Organisational (ETO) reason.

• The transfer of pension rights.

• Better notification of workers of their rights under TUPE.

• Service contracting, including the problem of very low bids running into financial difficulties.

• Statutory duty in Northern Ireland.

It was agreed that a draft Committee response would be prepared for debate, amendment and approval at the meeting of 10 January 2002.

2.08pm Mr Carrick left the meeting

Members debated the key issues to be included in their response and these included:-

• How much discretion do we (i.e. Northern Ireland) have under the EC Directive?

• How can and should TUPE be applied to the public sector - especially re contracting-out?

• How can and should pension rights be transferred?

• The better notification of employees of their TUPE-rights.

• How does TUPE bear on cases of dismissal and insolvency?

• Other issues raised from experience of existing TUPE procedures.

• Scope of Economic, Technical or Organisational (ETO) exemption.

2.12 Mr Hutchinson left the meeting

6. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 10 January 2001 at 2.30pm in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 2.14pm.

Dr Esmond Birnie, MLA
Chairman, Committee for Employment and Learning

6 December 2001 / Menu / 13 December 2001