This document is the initial response of the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee, to an invitation by the Minister, on 22 June 2000, to engage in preliminary consideration of the broad principles and structure of the Programme for Government. These comments are framed within a compressed timescale, to meet the Minister's request for views before the summer recess.

The Committee notes that this is an early stage of the Executive Committee's development of such a Programme, which will incorporate an agreed budget linked to policies and programmes. Therefore, the Committee will also require to scrutinise the draft Programme before it is approved by the Assembly and agreed by the Executive Committee. To assist its work, the Committee may, on return from recess, call for evidence from the official who represents the Minister on the Ministerial Representatives' Drafting Group, which will be carrying out detailed work on the Programme over the summer months.

The Committee's initial comments are offered under the following broad headings:
- Guiding Values and Principles
- Format
- Cross Cutting Issues
- Objectives and Targets
- Budget Priorities.

1. Guiding Values and Principles

The Committee considered the following principles and values were important for the entire Programme:
- Prosperity and equity
- A competitive and self-sustaining economy which is also socially inclusive.
- Co-operating, for the mutual benefit, with other jurisdictions - particularly within the British Isles, the island of Ireland, and the European Union; and learning from best practice elsewhere, as appropriate.
- Sustainability, particularly in environmental terms.
The Committee also considered that the Programme should seek to prove that devolution can make a valuable difference for all the people of Northern Ireland.
- Decentralisation and the geographical balance of development across Northern Ireland.

2. Format

The Committee considered there should be some high level, measurable targets in the Programme for Government.
They also consider it is important to make a clear distinction between programme-level short and medium term (e.g. 1 year, 3 year), and much longer term objectives. (See also (4) below.)

3. Cross-cutting Issues

The Committee considers that the following cross-cutting themes will be important in progressing the overall goals of the Programme. Their incorporation should help to develop arrangements across and between Government Departments, which enhance co-operation and focus effort. For ease of reference, these themes have been sub-divided into those areas considered to be within the remit of this Committee and other, broader, issues.

Issues within the remit of HFETE

- Research and Development and Training.
- Social inclusion (including access to education at all levels).
- Improving electronic links with the rest of the world.

Broader Issues

- Best use of resources including EU funds
- Building a world-class economy.
- Improving transportation links between Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and Ireland, EU and worldwide.
- Healthy lifestyle.

4. Objectives and Targets

The Committee was wholeheartedly supportive of the need for key Departmental objectives and associated targets, consistent with the overall strategic direction of the Executive, so that the Programme would be clear on what was to be done and by whom, within the resources available.
The Committee agreed that there should be some measurable targets in important areas e.g. improvements in adult literacy/numeracy; better matching of skills to the needs of industry. They welcomed the proposed preparation of Departmental agreements giving details of programmes and activities, linked to particular objectives and targets. The Committee recommended that such an approach would be developed as part of an integrated system of monitoring and evaluation, which would support adjustments to the Programme for Government, each year and as necessary, in the light of trends and results.

5. Budget Priorities

The Committee advise that, in reaching priority spending decisions, a strategic approach is taken, highlighting and ring-fencing adequate resources for the types of spending which promote long-term economic growth (e.g. development of intellectual and human capital - specifically, more HNDs and Modern Apprenticeships, alongside measures to enhance their esteem and relevance; extra university places in specific topic areas, targeted at high level economic regeneration).

However, alongside this strategic view, the budget building process needs to ensure that, for example, the distinction between capital and recurrent needs is as accurately forecast as possible in the longer term, and observed in current year budget structures.

ESMOND BIRNIE
Chairman

5 July 2000.

Minutes of 4 July 2000, section 3 b

Minutes of 6 July 2000, section 3 b