Minutes of Proceedings of the sixteenth meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held in Room 152 Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 17th April 2002
Members Present: Mr B Bell (Chairman)
Ms Armitage
Mr Beggs
Mr Carrick
Mr Close
Mr Dallat
Mr Hillditch
Mr McClelland
Ms Ramsey
Apologies: Ms Morrice
In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms C Campbell
Ms J Dickson
1. Introduction
The Chairman commenced proceedings by welcoming Mr John Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and his staff and Christine Darragh, Clerk to the Education Committee, to the meeting. He also introduced the Committee to Ms Jennifer Dickson and Ms Carla Campbell, the new support staff to the Committee.
Following this introduction, the Chairman turned to the order of business.
2. Apologies
An apology was received from Ms Morrice.
3. Minutes of Meetings of 20th February 2002 and 25th February 2002
Agreed.
The minutes accurately represented the business of the Committee.
4. Briefing by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Dowdall, and his team on the NIAO Report on Indicators of Educational Performance and Provision (NIA 48/01)
The C&AG gave a brief outline on what he considered to be the main conclusions drawn from the Report. Following the C&AG's introduction, Mr Edgar (NIAO Director) gave a presentation, which detailed the main issues in the Report. Following the presentation he addressed a number of queries raised by the members.
5. Clearance of PAC Draft Report and Press Release on Road Openings by Utilities
Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) was further examined
Draft Report (Road Openings by Utilities) proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, that the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Para 1 read and agreed to
Para 2 read and agreed to subject to amendment
Para 3 read and agreed to
Paras 4.1 to 5.2 postponed
Paras 6 to 18 read and agreed to
Para 19 read and agreed to subject to amendment
Paras 20 to 33 read and agreed to
Paras 4.1 to 5.2 read and agreed to subject to changes made to reflect amendments agreed in Main Report
Agreed.
The press release should be issued in the form submitted, subject to minor amendment.
6. DFP Memorandum of Reply to the PAC Report on the Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute
Agreed
The Committee welcomed the positive response in the DFP Memorandum on the Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute.
7. Issues arising from Committee Correspondence
The departmental responses to the Committee correspondence on
(1) CSA - Client Funds Account 2000/01
(2) DENI - Building Maintenance in the Education and Library Boards
were reviewed.
Agreed.
The Committee welcomed the responses and no further information was required at this stage.
Response from DFP regarding Safe Custody of Works of Art in Departmental Ownership
Agreed.
The Committee to write to the Accounting Officer seeking further assurance on this issue.
8. Forward Work
Agreed.
Additional meetings would be held on 16th May and 13th June to address the forthcoming NIAO Audit Report on Grants to Voluntary Bodies and the response of the Treasure to the Sharman Report respectively.
Agreed.
No briefing sessions will be required prior to the two additional hearings.
9. Any Other Business
N.I. Events Company Stormont (NIEC) Concert
The C&AG was requested by the Committee to carry out a review of the activities of the NIEC, given the current concern over the £100k grant to fund the Rod Stewart concert at Stormont, and to report back to the Committee with his findings.
Social Security Agency Fraud
The issue of a £300,000 SSA fraud, highlighted in local newspapers was raised. The C&AG confirmed that SSA had made him aware of the fraud at an early stage and all reporting procedures were adhered to.
Agreed.
The Department should be congratulated in discovering the fraud.
Agricultural Fraud
Agreed.
The Committee should write to the Minister for DARD expressing concerns over inadequate fines issued against farmers in alleged fraud cases.
Washington Visit
The Chairman informed the Committee that he contacted the Speakers Office, indicating that the first 2 weeks in June would be most suitable for the PAC to visit Washington. However, no response had been forthcoming.
Any Other Business
Agreed.
Committee members should inform the Clerk of "Any Other Business" which they intend to raise, so that this item can be discussed in a more structured manner.
Committee Timetable
The Chairman confirmed that the next meeting will be held at 10.30am Wednesday 24th April 2002 in the Senate Chamber where it will be taking evidence from Gerry McGinn and his team on Indicators of Educational Performance and Provision.
The meeting was then drawn to a close at 12.25pm.
B Bell
Committee Chairman
22 May 2002
