Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.37am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 25 th July 2007

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

Agreed: Members noted correspondence in relation to the Further Education College Lecturers’ Pay Dispute and agreed that the Department be asked to provide an update to the Committee following the Minister’s meeting with the trade union side scheduled for Friday 14 th September.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to the Chairpersons of comparable committees in Scotland and Wales outlining the Committee’s opposition to potential regionalisation of the national minimum wage.

Agreed: Members noted and agreed the proposed draft forward work programme for the Committee forthcoming meetings.

3.    Chairperson’s Business

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

Members were updated on an out – of - committee meeting hosted by the Chairperson on 12 th September with the Training for Women Network.

4.    Departmental Briefing on the Department’s proposed response to the Leitch Review of Skills

The Committee received a briefing from the Departmental officials Mrs Nuala Kerr and Mr Tim Devine, Skills and Industry Division, on the Department’s proposed response to the Leitch Review of Skills. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session.

11.2 am Mr Robin Newton left the meeting

5.    Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: Members noted a number of Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly’s Business Office during the summer recess and agreed that the Rules be considered at the next meeting. The Department to be alerted that officials may be required to provide evidence on Statutory Rules laid.

Agreed: Members also agreed that the Chairperson write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s concern regarding the volume and timing of subordinate legislation laid during the summer recess.

6.    Any Other Business

Agreed: Members noted a letter from Mr Alex Attwood MLA suggesting a potential Committee inquiry into the awarding of contracts by the Department as part of Training for Success. The Committee also agreed that relevant stakeholders be contacted by the Committee and made aware that their views may be sought with regard to the policy scrutiny of Pathways to Work and Training for Success.

7.    Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19 th September 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.34am.

Mr Jimmy Spratt
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
19 September 2007