Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10:34am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 3 rd October 2007

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

Members noted a Departmental paper, requested at the Committee meeting on 4 th July, on teacher education in Northern Ireland.

Members were updated on statistics requested in relation to the University of Ulster Campus at Magee and on the scheduling of a Departmental budget briefing in November.

Members also noted additional information received from Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) and the Skills for Business Network.

10:37am Mr Newton joined the meeting
10:38am Mr Attwood joined the meeting

3.    Chairperson’s Business

Agreed: Members noted and agreed responses to a number of pieces of correspondence received by the Chairperson and noted a number of pieces of correspondence from the Chairperson.

4.    Departmental Evidence Session from DEL’s Quality and Performance Branch on its Quality Improvement Strategy

The Committee received evidence from the Departmental representatives Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Nuala Kerr, Director of Skills and Industry Division, on developments in relation to the Department’s contracting arrangements in relation to the Training for Success Programme and on the Department’s Quality Improvement Strategy. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11:26am Mr McClarty left the meeting
11:36am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting

5.    Briefing from NI Assembly’s Research Services on its Research Paper – “Overview of Skills Training Providers and Strategies”

The Committee received a briefing NI Assembly Research Services representative Peter McClenaghan, Research Officer, on his research paper – “Overview of Skills Training Providers and Strategies”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

6.    Briefing from NI Assembly’s Research Services on its Research Paper – “OECD Education Statistics, Educational Attainment and problems associated with NI comparisons”

11:51am Mr McClarty left the meeting

The Committee received a briefing NI Assembly Research Services representative Dr Robert Barry, Senior Research Officer, on his research paper – “OECD Education Statistics, Educational Attainment and problems associated with NI comparisons”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

7.    Committee Monitoring and Scrutiny of the Training for Success Programme

The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson to the Minister formalising the Committee’s monitoring and scrutiny programme and a letter from the Minister to the Chairperson on the suspension of trading of Carter and Carter shares.

Agreed: The Committee agreed a draft press release on the proposed monitoring and scrutiny work programme be issued.

8.    Departmental Press Notices

Members noted Departmental press notices issued recently.

9.    Any Other Business

No other items of business were raised.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17 th October 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:10pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
17 October 2007