The Northern Ireland Assembly - THE NEW NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY SHADOW COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE TWENTY EIGHTH MEETING

The Initial Presiding Officer informed Members that he had written to Mr Murphy congratulating him on his new appointment and will meet his successor Mr Howarth on 20 September. All but two of the Parties have claimed the £1500 addition to the Party support premium.

2.2 Crown Status

Drafts of the two Orders in Council have not yet been received. The Initial Presiding Officer referred to recent correspondence with the Secretary of State and the Inland Revenue regarding stamp duty exemption. The Inland Revenue has advised that exemption requires primary legislation. It was agreed that the Initial Presiding Officer should write to the Secretary of State and the Inland Revenue asking them to progress this issue.

2.3 Accommodation

The introduction of the new pass system is progressing well.

2.4 Fire Precautions

The evaluation of the July fire drill was very positive. Another test of the drill is planned for October when there will be no announcements about muster points.

2.5 Membership of the Commission

The Initial Presiding Officer has arranged to meet the joint chairmen of the Standing Orders Committee on 20 September. Mr Coulter and Mr Fee were asked to brief the joint chairmen on the Commission's proposal to address the issue of proportionality.

2.6 Meeting with Cedric Wilson

Some new information has come to hand which the Keeper of the House is investigating. The Initial Presiding Officer has provisionally arranged to meet Mr McCartney on 20 September.

2.7 Pensions Bill

Under this agenda item the Initial Presiding Officer raised the general issue of how the Commission should involve house committees and the pension trustees in further development work at this stage. It was agreed that Mr Evans should take the views of house committee chairmen and the pension trustees.

2.8 Wheelchair Access

Mr Waddell still awaiting a report from Disability Action on disabled access. Leaflet on disabled access still to be prepared. DOE has been asked to provide a report on the possibility of installing a ramp at the front entrance of Parliament Buildings. The Initial Presiding Officer will be meeting medical colleagues on 20 September to discuss the content of the first aid training programme and ideas on the provision of an emergency medical service.

2.9 BBC Proposal

BBC has still to submit a proposal on the development of corridor B40 and the bunker.

2.10 Development of the Stormont Estate

Mr Evans has written to DOE setting out the Commission's preferred option for the provision of access and car parking facilities for the children's playground. It was agreed that this issue needs to be resolved quickly because of the traffic difficulties at the Prince of Wales Entrance. Mr Evans to contact Police Traffic Branch regarding parking on the Newtownards Road.

DOE officials to be invited to the next Commission meeting to discuss the car parking issue and the more general development of the Stormont Estate.

2.11 Staffing

It was agreed that there needed to be careful management of the withdrawal of NICS secondees for familiarisation training. The Initial Presiding Officer informed Members that the secondment of the legally qualified solicitor has been delayed and that the Secretariat had received advice from DFP that the Examiner of Statutory Rules would not have a role with non-transferred matters. The Commission agreed to await DFP's formal response. The Initial Presiding Officer agreed to ask Mr Semple about the possibility of all of the NICS terms and conditions being provided electronically.

2.12 Pavarotti Concert

The Commission agreed that the concert had been a success and that the access, car parking and catering arrangements had worked well. Members asked for their appreciation to be passed on to doorkeepers and Mount Charles staff.

The Initial Presiding Officer agreed to speak to Dr A McDonnell about the incident involving one of Pavarotti's security staff. It was agreed that all visitors should be briefed on the correct protocol in the building

2.13 Security Cameras

The Initial Presiding Officer agreed to raise the security cameras issue with the Chief Constable.

2.14 Handbook Covers

The Commission agreed that the handbook covers should be ordered immediately.

2.15 Stationery Ordering Procedures

Original paper to be redrafted for consideration at the next Commission meeting.

3. SOUND AND VISION

3.1 The technical assessment of the sound and vision equipment has been completed. The report indicates that the sound and vision equipment has a shelf-life of 7-8 years. It was agreed that the GPA can begin negotiations for the purchase of the equipment and continue with the current tender for the operation and maintenance of the sound and vision facility.

4. MEMBERS' SALARIES

4.1 Members noted the advice from Speaker's Counsel. The Assembly is legally obliged to pay Ministers' salaries and determine a single composite salary for Ministers and officer-holders. Also the Northern Ireland Act requires the abatement of the composite salary of a Minister and office-holder holding a dual mandate and not just the Assembly Member part of the salary. The Commission agreed that the salaries of Ministers and office-holders should, where appropriate, be abated by a stated amount equivalent to two thirds of an Assembly Member's salary.

4.2 Speaker's Counsel has also advised that Party Whips do not come under section 47(3)(iv) of the Northern Ireland Act and can therefore not be remunerated as Assembly office-holders. Members agreed to consider alternative arrangements and come back to this issue at the next Commission meeting.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 The Commission considered a request from the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Family Care Society, to hold an interdenominational prayer service on 16 or 17 October. Members were content for the event to go ahead but asked for their concerns, that this should not be seen as a precedent for other events of a similar nature, to be included in the response to the Secretary of State.

5.2 Two requests for Saturday tours on 18 September were approved:

Y Professor McWilliams, Transport and General Workers' Union;

Y Mr Wells, Mourne Free Presbyterian Church Ladies Group.

5.3 The Commission approved a request to hold an evening reception for the International Cancer evening on Saturday 3 October. It was agreed that the Minister should be asked to invite the health spokespersons from each of the Parties.

5.4 The Commission endorsed the Initial Presiding Officer's proposal to provide John Kennedy with lifetime access to the Assembly library.

5.5 The Initial Presiding Officer informed Members that he had received a paper on the provision of child care facilities and had asked for the paper to be refined.

5.6 Members did not approve a request from Ms Jane Morrice for the Commission to host a coffee morning on behalf of the Northern Ireland Hospice.

5.7 The Commission approved a request for 7 security passes for Central Secretariat's Visits Section and a further request from the BBC to film the "Straight Up" programme in the Senate Chamber.

5.8 The request to hold the Belfast Festival of Speed in Stormont Estate was deferred to the next Commission meeting when more detail on the event will be available.

5.9 There was a discussion on the proposed protest march by the Long March Committee planned for 25 September. Members agreed that, if the Parades Commission ruled in favour of the protest, the Commission would hold with the policy agreed at the 29 March meeting which gives the Speaker authority to allow protests up to the steps of Parliament Buildings as long as a protest is not obstructive, defamatory or offensive. It was also agreed that a small delegation would be permitted entry to Parliament Buildings but that no banners would be allowed.

6. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 28 September at 2.00 pm.

TOM EVANS

27 July 1999 / Menu / 28 September 1999