COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2001 AT 3.00 PM
IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Plenary Timings
4. Question Time
5. Sub Committees
6. Correspondance
7. Any Other Business
8. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Present: Mr C Murphy (Chairperson)
Mr I Davis
Mr A Maginness
Mr D McClarty
Mr P McNamee

Clerk to the Committee: Mr C McGarrity

In attendance: Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

Apologies: Mr F Agnew
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr I Paisley

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of 13 June 2001 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Members Interests

The Chairperson drew the Members attention to the letter from the Clerk of the Standards and Privileges Committee confirming his Committees agreement to the proposed changes to Standing Orders 57 and 64. The Committee agreed to table the motion (as circulated) with the Business Office.

ACTION: CLERK

The Chairperson referred the Committee to the letter from the Chairperson of the Audit Committee indicating his Committees agreement to the proposed changes to Standing Order 58. The Committee agreed to table the motion (as circulated) with the Business Office.

ACTION: CLERK

3. PLENARY TIMINGS

Members reported party views on the proposal to ratify the current temporary start time of 12.00 on Monday. All parties represented supported the proposal for a permanent change to start time from 10.30 to 12.00 midday. The Committee agreed to a motion proposing the necessary amendments to Standing Orders.

ACTION: CLERK

In discussion on the order of plenary business a number of members raised the issue of possible procedures to allow members to introduce urgent business which was not on the Order Paper. The Committee agreed to engage research into the practice in other legislatures for discussion after the Summer recess.

ACTION: CLERK

4. Question Time

Members agreed that before deciding on the proposal to move Question Time from 2.30pm to 12.00 midday on a Monday, the views of Ministers should be sought. It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to each Minister.

5. SUB COMMITTEES

Members agreed the following;

1. Standing and Statutory Committees should have the authority to establish a sub committee
2. If a Committee wanted to establish more than one sub committee to run simultaneously it must first seek the approval of the Business Committee and then the Assembly
3. Sub Committees must have a quorum which is to be set by the parent committee
4. Joint sub committees will not be permitted. However this issue should be revisited at a later date
5. Amended Standing Order 52 was agreed. This is to be introduced after the summer recess, BUT only for a trial period of 6 months whereupon the Committee would review the situation and decide if the amendments should be made permanent.

ACTION: CLERK

6.1 Committee Attendance

The Committee discussed the letter from the Chairperson of the Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment Committee. It was agreed that this was a matter for Party Whips and not one that could be resolved by the introduction of new Standing Orders. It was agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Business Committee asking that the matter be raised with party Whips and also to seek views on possible options for addressing the problem.

ACTION: CLERK

6.2 Financial Process Seminar

The Committee instructed the Clerk to inform the Clerk of the Chairperson Liaison Group that the Members of the Committee would nominate through their respective Departmental Committees.

ACTION: CLERK

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

8. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures would be on Tuesday 3 July at 4.00 p m in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 3.52 pm.