Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2008/2009

Date: 05 November 2008

Venue: Room 135

The meeting opened at 10:29am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 22ND October 2008

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from the Construction Industry Group (CIG)

10:35am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting

The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Construction Industry Group (CIG): Gordon Best, Chairman of the CIGNI, Ciarán Fox, Executive Secretary of the CIGNI, and Colin McCarthy, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), on challenges facing the construction industry. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11:04am Rev Dr Robert Coulter joined the meeting

3. Briefing from People 1st

11:39am Ms Ramsey left the meeting, Mr Newton took the Chair

The Committee received a briefing from representatives of People 1st: Roisin McKee, Northern Ireland Manager, and Martin-Christian Kent, Director of Research and Policy, on “Project Spinnaker” and the challenges facing the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industries. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

4. Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Annual Report 2008

Agreed: Members noted and agreed the Committee’s input to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Annual Report 2008.

5. Subordinate Legislation

12:38pm Rev Dr Robert Coulter left the meeting

Agreed: Members noted the following item of subordinate legislation and agreed that it be deferred until the meeting on 12th November:

Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008

6. Matters Arising

Agreed: Members noted an update paper from the Department outlining the current position in relation to European Social Fund Matched Funding and agreed that the paper be forwarded to the Committee for Social Development.

Agreed: Members noted a Departmental paper regarding Northern Ireland students studying higher education courses in the UK and agreed that any concerns be forwarded to the Committee Office to be raised with the Department.

Agreed: The Committee noted a paper from Assembly Research Services “Mergers in Higher Education: Lessons from International Experience” and agreed that further research be carried out and the revised paper be raised at a future meeting.

Agreed: Members noted a number of items of correspondence and a Departmental press release on the loss of apprenticeship places at FE Colleges and agreed that the Deputy Chairperson write to the Minister requesting a briefing from Departmental Officials on this issue. It was also agreed that further information be requested from the Department on the colleges and geographical locations of apprentices unable to complete their apprenticeships since September 2007.

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Mr Attwood to the Chairperson in relation to further evidence sessions to the Committee on its Review of Teacher Education and agreed that the issues be deferred until the meeting on 12th November.

7. Chairperson’s Business

12:50pm Rev Dr Robert Coulter returned to the meeting

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses. The Committee also noted a number of forthcoming events to be attended by the Chairperson and/or Members.

8. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.

9. Any Other Business

12:53pm Mr McClarty left the meeting

Agreed: Members noted a request from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to provide evidence on its Consideration of European Issues and agreed that a draft response be added to the Committee’s agenda for the meeting on 12th November.

Members noted and raised no issues on the following SL1 from the Social Development Committee:

The Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Members also noted the following DWP Green Paper from the Social Development Committee:

“No one written off: Reforming Welfare to reward responsibility – July 2008”

Agreed: The Committee also noted correspondence from the University and College Union (UCU) and from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, in relation to the ongoing Further Education lecturers’ pay dispute and agreed that the Committee await further updates on the situation from the UCU.

The Committee noted an update research paper from the Department entitled “Strengthening the all-island research base”.

Members also noted correspondence to the Chairperson in relation to apprentices attending the Skills Centre in Enniskillen.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12th November 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:05pm.