Response to the Executive's Position Report - Programme for Government

The response set out below is the Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment's preliminary views on the suggested developments of the Programme for Government, in response to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister's letter of 18 June 2001. The response is under two main areas, comments on the relevant current areas within the Programme for Government, February 2001 and new issues for consideration.

Current Areas

1. Basic Skills

The Committee strongly recommends that greater emphasis in the immediate
future should be placed on the correction of basic skill (literacy and numeracy) weaknesses. This would undoubtedly assist people to get back into work and contribute to the Executive's priority of 'Growing as a Community'. Whilst the Committee fully recognises the work that is ongoing it supports the view that current low levels of basic skills in a large percentage of the Northern Ireland adult population, as reported in the final report of the International Adult Literacy Survey (OECD), must be addressed immediately. It is with this point in mind that the Committee was particularly disappointed that the Department's bid for funds to improve adult basic education, literacy and numeracy under the last round of Executive Programme Funds only received 30% of its request. In fact the Committee considered the Department's bid could have been significantly higher with even more challenging targets combined with a shorter time frame. Furthermore, it is important that greater emphasis on hard targets for literacy and numeracy development is included in the action plans of the Programme for Government.

2. Unemployment

The Committee again acknowledges the continuing work in this area but must emphasise that it requires a greater priority and cross-departmental focus. Furthermore, a strategic approach is required for upskilling and reskilling the current workforce to meet the demands of the changing and developing economy, to ensure people are properly trained for future job requirements and not become unemployed.

3. Access for all

The Committee recommends that more must be done immediately to improve access to education for the disabled. Whilst we acknowledge the additional funding recently announced by the Minister of Finance and Personnel for access to Higher and Further Education, we would like to see the future statutory requirements met in a shorter time frame than is required under the legislative timescale.

4. Resources

The Committee recognises the high level of competition between departments for scarce financial resources. It is to this aim that the Committee echoes the sentiments in Chapter 7 of the Programme for Government, February 2001, of the valued contribution of public services. However, we support the aims as set out in the following sections of the Programme for Government document.

7.2 We will modernise Government and make it more open and accessible to the public.

7.3 We will improve the efficiency of public services.

7.4 We will reform public administration.

The Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment stresses the importance of a review of the public sector to increase its efficiency and effectiveness, so that the scarce financial resources released can be redirected to achieve outcomes for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland. It is vital that this work is brought forward to ensure that the aims of the Programme for Government are achieved.

5. Research and Development

The Committee welcomes the renewed focus on Research and Development (R&D) and the initial work that has been undertaken in the development of a Research and Development Strategy for Northern Ireland. This is vital to aid the successful development of a new knowledge-based economy and redress the traditional under funding of R&D in NI. It is vital that this area is given significant priority in the revised PfG proposals to contribute to reducing the earnings differential in NI with other countries.

6. Information Communication Technology

The Committee recognises the role that Information Communication Technology (ICT) has to play in the wide remit of the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment and other government departments. The Committee is all too aware that a digital divide could further disadvantage those already underprivileged in our society. Thus we would encourage that the Programme for Government includes a recommendation in relation to ICT for 2002-03 so that cross-departmental initiatives can proactively ensure that the digital divide does not become a reality. This would help to underpin a knowledge-based economy, which in turn provides equal opportunities for all our citizens.

NEW AREAS

1. Career Choice

During the evidence sessions of our current Inquiry it was very apparent that children and their parents were not aware of all the new opportunities for employment, and tended to select the perceived safer options, for example the public sector in preference to the private sector. It is vital that this balance is properly redressed if the knowledge-based economy is to succeed. The Committee would like to see both the input of careers education and guidance and the work of the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership enhanced at both policy and implementation level and included in the revised Programme for Government action points.

2. Bids for Executive Programme Funds

With respect to the allocation of Executive Programme Funds the Committee would encourage a greater emphasis on allocation of resources to those bids which are genuine cross-departmental initiatives and partnership with both other government and non-government bodies. They should not simply be another source of finance to be bid for by individual departments. Furthermore the bids must be clearly set out in measurable objective terms for proper future scrutiny.

3. Confusion of Names

May we suggest that the names of the Executive Programme Funds be changed to be consistent with the Executive Priority areas to help read across and general understanding by all.

In conclusion we are very supportive of the work already carried out on the Programme for Government but it is vital that it is regularly monitored, fully assessed and reported to ensure it makes maximum impact and that remedial action can be taken effectively if required.

Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Chairman
5 July 2001

Hyperlink to Minutes of 21 June 2001, para 4
Hyperlink to Minutes of 5 July 2001, para, para 3, action point 5