No. 14-10/11

Minute of Proceedings
Monday 01 November 2010

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 The Speaker informed Members that, on Wednesday 27 October 2010, Mr Danny Kennedy had taken up the office of Minister for Employment and Learning.

2.2 The Speaker informed Members that he had received correspondence from the nominating officer of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr Tom Elliott, nominating himself as Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister with effect from 27 October 2010. The Speaker confirmed the appointment.

2.3 Public Petition - Opposition to the Russell Group Proposals for Student Loans

Mr Pat Ramsey was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to opposition to the Russell Group Proposals for Student Loans.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement - Recent Visit to USA

The First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson, made a statement to the Assembly regarding a recent Ministerial visit to the USA for an economic conference in Washington on 19 October, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Statement - Review of the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the review of the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

3.3 Further Consideration Stage - Debt Relief Bill (NIA Bill 9/09)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Debt Relief Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Bill NIA 9/09 stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.4 Further Consideration Stage - Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill (NIA Bill 12/09)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Bill NIA 12/09 stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr George Savage replace Mr Roy Beggs as a member of the Committee for the Environment; that Mr Billy Armstrong replace Mr Danny Kinahan as a member of the Committee for Regional Development; and that Mr John McCallister replace Mr Billy Armstrong as a member of the Committee for Social Development.

Mr F Cobain
Mr B Armstrong

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4.2 Motion - Standing Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Billy Armstrong replace Mr George Savage as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Mr F Cobain
Mr B Armstrong

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion - External Consultants

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to review the use and cost of external consultants; to develop further in-house consultancy resources; and to identify the necessary skills within the Civil Service to undertake more consultancy work.

Mr P Maskey
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr C Boylan

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

6. Question Time

6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson. Junior Minister, Mr Robin Newton, also answered a number of questions.

6.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Nelson McCausland.

7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 Flooding in East Belfast.

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Conor Murphy, replied to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer, tabled by Mr Chris Lyttle.

8. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

8.1 Motion - External Consultants (Cont’d)

The debate resumed on the Motion.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

8.2 Motion - University Funding

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the publication of the Browne and Stuart reports on the funding of third level education; calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Executive to ensure that publicly funded higher education is based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay; rejects any increase in the cost of student loans; and opposes the Coalition Government's plans to adopt the Browne proposal to remove the cap on student fees.

Mr P Ramsey
Mrs D Kelly
Mr C McDevitt

8.3 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘pay’ and insert:

‘, ensuring that third level education in Northern Ireland remains affordable; calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to bring forward recommendations on how students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds can be assisted; and rejects any proposal to remove the cap on student fees which could lead to a two-tier university system.’

Mr P Weir
Mr J Bell

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made(Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried(Division 2).

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.02pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
1 November 2010

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 November 2010
Divisions

Division No. 1

University Funding - Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘pay’ and insert:

‘, ensuring that third level education in Northern Ireland remains affordable; calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to bring forward recommendations on how students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds can be assisted; and rejects any proposal to remove the cap on student fees which could lead to a two-tier university system.’

Mr P Weir
Mr J Bell

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 44
Noes: 29

Ayes

Mr S Anderson, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gibson, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, LordMorrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McClarty and Mr Ross.

Noes

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Farry, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Loan, Ms Purvis, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Burns and Mr Maginness.

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 November 2010
Divisions

Division No. 2

University Funding - Motion as amended

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the publication of the Browne and Stuart reports on the funding of third level education; calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Executive to ensure that publicly funded higher education is based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay; rejects any increase in the cost of student loans; and opposes the Coalition Government's plans to adopt the Browne proposal to remove the cap on student fees.

Mr P Ramsey
Mrs D Kelly
Mr C McDevitt

Leave out all after ‘pay’ and insert:

‘, ensuring that third level education in Northern Ireland remains affordable; calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to bring forward recommendations on how students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds can be assisted; and rejects any proposal to remove the cap on student fees which could lead to a two-tier university system.’

Mr P Weir
Mr J Bell

The Question, as amended, was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 44
Noes: 29

Ayes

Mr S Anderson, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gibson, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McClarty and Mr Ross.

Noes

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Farry, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Loan, Ms Purvis, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Burns and Mr Maginness.

The Motion, as amended, was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly from
26 October to 1 November 2010

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator Report and Annual Accounts for 25 January to 31 March 2010 (HOC)

Minute of Assignment under Article 4(2) (b) of the Departments ( Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (DOE)

5. Assembly Reports

The Northern Ireland Assembly Members' Pension Fund Annual Report and Accounts (NIA 11/10/11R)

6. Statutory Rules

(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only)

S.R. 2010/353 The Introductory Tenancies (Abandonment Notice) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DSD)

S.R. 2010/354 The Introductory Tenancies (Abandoned Property) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DSD)

S.R. 2010/355 The Animal Feed Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DHSSPS)

For Information Only:

S.R. 2010/356 The Parking Places on Roads (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DRD)

S.R. 2010/357 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DRD)

S.R. 2010/358 The Parking Places on Roads (Cookstown) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DRD)

S.R. 2010/359 The Prohibition of Waiting (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Implementation of the EU Third Internal Energy Package (DETI)

Review of Financial Assistance for Domestic Properties not Served by a Water Main (DRD)

9. Departmental Publications

The Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Records 2009/10 (DCAL)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

CORE: A Case Study in the management and control of a local economic development initiative - Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (NIAO)