MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE NINETEENTH MEETING OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE HELD IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON WEDNESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2001

Present: Mr B Bell (Chairman)
Mr R Beggs
Mr Mervyn Carrick
Mr S Close
Mr J Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Mr D McClelland
Ms J Morrice
Mr D O'Connor

Apologies Mrs P Armitage
Ms S Ramsey

In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss L Tracey

1. Introduction

The Chairman commenced proceedings by welcoming Mr. Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), and his staff to the meeting. He then proceeded to outline the objectives of the meeting as:

1. To agree the draft minutes of the meetings of 18.01.01 and 06.02.01 and
2. To be briefed on the NIAO Reports on Health and Personal Social Services - Executive Directors' and Senior Managers' Pay (HC 396) & Executive Directors' Contracts and Termination Settlements (NIA 1/00)

Following this introduction, the Chairman turned to the order of business.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Mrs P Armitage and Ms S Ramsey

3. Minutes from Meeting of 18 January 2001 and 6 February 2001

Agreed

The minutes were an accurate record of the previous meetings.

4. Presentation by Mr. John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and his staff on the NIAO Reports on Health and Personal Social Services - Executive Directors' and Senior Managers' Pay (HC 396) & Executive Directors' Contracts and Termination Settlements (NIA 1/00)

The C&AG gave a brief outline on what he considered to be the main conclusions drawn from the Reports. Following the C&AG's introduction, Mr Edgar (NIAO Director of VFM) gave a talk which detailed, chapter by chapter, the main issues in the Reports. During the presentation he addressed a number of queries raised by the members.

He also outlined the type of questions to be asked in order to draw out conclusions and recommendations for the subsequent PAC Report.

5. Any Other Business

Response from DFP on Rural College

The Chairman reported that he had received the DFP report on the Rural College from the Treasury Officer of Accounts. This had been requested in the Public Evidence Session of 25^th October 2000.

Agreed

The Committee concluded that while the response was not a ringing endorsement of the funding of the Rural College, it was accepted as a reasonable answer.

Visit to Dublin

The Chairman reported that the Committee visit was undoubtedly a success. The opportunity was taken to review both the operations and the reports of the Dublin PAC. From this, he concluded that the local PAC compared favourably. It identified the strengths of the current procedures, such as the in-depth briefing by the C&AG and his staff, the subject matter of the reports and the in-depth questioning which covers all key aspects of the reports.

In order to return the compliment to PAC in Dublin, the Chairman reported that he has invited them to attend one of our sessions, probably in March.

NIAO Report - Northern Ireland Appropriation Accounts 1999/2000 (NIA 36/00)

The C&AG gave the Committee a brief résumé of the report which was laid before the Assembly on 13^th February 2001 and its main conclusions

Government Resources and Accounts Bill

The Chairman reported that the Government Resources and Accounts Bill will be moving to Final Consideration Stage on Tuesday 20^th February. Following the debate in the Assembly on 12^th February, the bill as it stands now has taken on board the recommendations of the PAC as set out in the Committee's letter of 7.11.00.

The Chairman stated that as a result of negotiations, the access rights of the C&AG have been extended, FRAB has been adopted as the advisory group for consultation on accounting matters (there is still a minor amendment to be made in relation to this), and an undertaking has been given by the Minister to take on board the Sharman Report following publication.

6. Next Meeting

The next meeting is to held at 10.20am on Thursday 22^nd February in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings for a Public Evidence Session on Health and Personal Social Services - Executive Directors' and Senior Managers' Pay (HC 396) & Executive Directors' Contracts and Termination Settlements (NIA 1/00).

The meeting was then drawn to a close at 12:30pm.

William B Bell
Committee Chairman