Response on Department's Annual Business Plan 2001/02

1.0 Introduction
The Committee has carried out one of the key powers within its remit in scrutinising the Department's Annual Business Plan for 2001/02, and commends the Department for the challenging and wide ranging annual programme which it has set. There is a significant improvement in the tightening and precision of targets, which the Committee has referred to in its response to the Annual Report for 2000/01. Nevertheless, given the problems with objective performance measurement raised in that response, the Committee has raised several issues which should be addressed before the Annual Business Plan is published.

2.0 Targets
Several of the targets which the Department has set for the year are not Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound (SMART). Action needs to be taken to ensure that all annual targets meet these requirements, otherwise the Department will have difficulties in objectively measuring and reporting performance at year-end. The level of accountability within the current draft is significantly reduced as the Committee is unclear as to the level of performance required to demonstrate target achievement in certain areas. The Committee has outlined some examples below. The relevant key issue is included for ease of reference.

2.1 Specific/Measurable

• To continue to develop the New Deal initiatives. (New Deal)

• To enhance provision for clients with basic skills needs. (New Deal)

• To appoint further full-time chairs to Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals. (Employment Relations)

• To publicise the role of the Industrial Court and offer impartial advice. (Employment Relations)

• To establish and support 32 learndirect centres. (Lifelong Learning)

• To allocate additional HE places by May 2001. (Widening access to, and increasing participation in, Further and Higher Education)

• To extend areas such as the Skills Fund; the Partnership Fund and the Access Initiative. (Widening access to, and increasing participation in, Further and Higher Education)

• To carry out up to 40 inspections of institutions by March 2002. (Enhancing Quality in Further and Higher Education)

• To extend the Strategic Restructuring Fund. (Economic Relevance of Further and Higher Education)

• To pilot some new approaches through FECs to support SMEs. (Economic Relevance of Further and Higher Education)

• To support the Lecturers into Industry Initiative. (Economic Relevance of Further and Higher Education)

• To further develop the potential of JobCentre Online. (Supporting Policy and Programme Delivery through e-business)

• To administer the employment priority of the Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity and ESF measures in the Economic Renewal Priority of Peace II. (Finance)

2.2 Timebound
1. To prepare an Action Plan on employability and long-term unemployment. (Social Inclusion)
2. To implement the Community Initiative EQUAL Programme. (Finance)

3.0 Key issue - New Deal
The target on the development of an enhanced New Deal for 18-24 year olds is unclear on what is to be achieved by March 2002 i.e. will the programme be in place or merely completed awaiting implementation?

The target to introduce "provisions for those who have not yet reached the New Deal entry points by October 2002," cannot be measured/achieved within the timeframe and should not be included in this year's Annual Plan.

4.0 Key issue - Employment Relations
The reference to considering the outcomes from four major consultations should not be included under the 2001/02 legislative programme, unless legislation is to be introduced within this timeframe as a result of these consultations.

5.0 Key issue - Social Inclusion
The Department should consider the inclusion of some of the commitments in its Equality Scheme to be met during 2001/02. In addition, the target on New TSN should be amended to establish that the Department will meet the commitments in its New TSN Action Plan. The Committee considers that it is insufficient to merely have a target "to report on progress at appropriate points."

6.0 Key issue - Lifelong Learning
The target "to establish and support 32 learndirect centres" should be benchmarked to the number of centres which have been established to date.

With regard to Individual Learning Accounts, the target is for an additional 25,000 accounts to be opened. The Committee considers that the number of accounts activated is extremely important and was assured in a letter from the Department (12 June 2001) that this year's target would be "for 17,500 accounts to be activated i.e. used to book and help pay for eligible courses." Why has this not been included?

The target to "develop a strategy to address the weaknesses in literacy and numeracy among adults by October 2001," appears to stop short of the Public Service Agreement target that this is to be followed by "a pilot scheme and consultation up to March 2002." The Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment is concerned at this apparent slippage as literacy and numeracy needs urgent action and progress so that real benefits can be achieved.

7.0 Key issue - The Economic Relevance of Further and Higher Education
The target to "initiate Foundation Degree pilots from October 2001" should refer to the Public Service Agreement target "to involve 100 FTE students in economically relevant disciplines."

8.0 Key issue - The 16-19 Curriculum
Although the area of careers guidance is referred to here, there is no reference to the implementation of the Fulton Report. The Committee considers that a target should be set for the implementation of recommendations arising from this Review, so that outcomes can be achieved.

The Committee again refers to quantification of the level of support for NIBEP, given that they may have received inadequate funding to deliver on their enhanced remit, which was agreed by the Department.

9.0 Key issue - Research, Development and Innovation
The target for "initial investment in the SPUR programme by March 2002" needs quantified. The Public Service Agreement target of "an additional £5m funding in 2001/02 to improve facilities for research in science, technology and culture," has not been referred to.

10.0 Personnel Targets 2001/02
The Committee considers that more precise information on the five themes within the Department's "People Strategy" should be outlined in the Annual Business Plan.

In addition, given the Department's poor record of staff sick leave and the fact that last year's target in this area was not achieved, a specific target needs to be set for this year to address this issue.

11.0 Public Service Agreement
There are a number of targets contained in the Department's Public Service Agreement, which require action to be taken by March 2002. However, the Committee has noted that several of these have not been included in the Annual Business Plan. These include:

• the provision of 250 entry into management places for graduates;

• to provide 350 senior and middle managers with access to innovative development opportunities;

• to activate 17,500 ILAs; and

• to increase provision for access to work for disabled people by 35%.

The Committee recommends that all targets and actions included in the Department's Public Service Agreement which require specific action by March 2002 should be included in the Annual Business Plan for 2001/02. This will ensure that performance against these targets will be measured and reported at the end of the year.

Dr Esmond Birnie, MLA
Chairman
5 July 2001

Minutes of 28 June 2001, para 4
Minutes of 5 July 2001, para 3, action point 2