Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.31am in public session.

Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Alastair Ross to the Committee, replacing Mr Jim Wells.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 23 rd May 2007 and Matters Arising.

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising.

Agreed: Members noted and agreed the first draft of the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and further agreed that the Committee’s schedule of meetings be published on the Assembly’s website.

10.34am Mr Attwood joined the meeting

Members noted that a Committee visit has been confirmed for 13 th June to Queen’s University of Belfast. Members were briefed on a draft programme for the event.

10.39am Mr Butler joined the meeting

3.    Chairperson’s Business (Correspondences and Attendances).

Agreed: Members noted the items of correspondence received by the Chairperson from the Electrical Training Trust, Mr Sam Gibson and the North West Public Sector Review Group.

Members also noted 3 letters from the Chairperson to the Minister for Employment and Learning.

4.    Federation of Small Businesses.

The Chairperson welcomed Wilfred Mitchell, George Dorrian and Glyn Roberts from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The Committee received a briefing on skills, training and research and development needs in relation to small and medium sized businesses. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked Messrs Mitchell, Dorrian and Roberts for their attendance before the Committee.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.25am

The meeting resumed at 11.34am

5.    Any Other Business.

Members noted two pieces of subordinate legislation to be considered by the Committee in relation to The Industrial Court (Proceedings) Rules (NI) 2007 and the Education (Student Support) Regulations ( Northern Ireland).

6.    Departmental Briefing.

The Chairperson welcomed Nuala Kerr and Bernie O’Hare from the Department for Employment and Learning. The Committee received a briefing on the Department’s Skills and Training strategies, the Further Education strategy (FE Means Business) and Essential Skills strategies designed to address adult and literacy and numeracy issues. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the Departmental officials for their attendance before the Committee.

12.11pm Mr McCausland left the meeting
12.15pm Mrs McGill left the meeting

7.    Initial Research Programme.

Agreed: Members considered a paper produced by the Clerk on initial research to be undertaken by the Assembly Research Service and agreed to the proposed research programme.

8.    Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 6 th June 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning.

6 June 2007.