Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 11:21am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meetings held on 18th February 2009

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Update briefing from the Minister

The Committee received an update briefing from the Minister on current issues affecting the Department. Departmental officials, Patricia McAuley, Director of Preparation for Work Division and Siobhan Logue, Assistant Director of Preparation for Work Division, were in attendance. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.25pm Mr Paul Butler left the meeting

3. Departmental briefing on February Monitoring Round

The Committee received a briefing from Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary and Trevor Connolly, Director of Finance and European Division, on the February Monitoring Round. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

4. Subordinate Legislation – The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009

Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of the Regulations until the next Committee meeting.

5. Matters Arising

• Update of the STEM event on 18 th February 2009
• Agreed: The Committee agreed to await the DE/DEL STEM Review, before taking any further action.
• First Report of MATRIX: The Science and Industry Panel
  Members noted the First Report of MATRIX.
• CITB Annual Report 2006/07
  Members noted the CITB Annual Report.
• ETI Report – “A Survey of the Quality of Provision for Construction Craft Training in Work-Based Learning”
  Members noted the ETI survey.
• Correspondence from QUB on possible joint venture with INTO University Partnership
  Agreed: The Committee agreed that the letter from QUB should be forwarded to UCU.
• Request for DEL officials to brief the DE Committee on the Report on the Review of Teacher Education.

Agreed: The Committee agreed.

• Requested Departmental update on Steps to Work programme

The Committee was content to note the departmental update information.

• Committee Study Visit to Boston/North Carolina/ Washington

Members noted details of the forthcoming Committee visit to the United States.

6. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses. Members also noted a forthcoming meeting of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson with the Convenor of the Scottish Committee on Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture on 30 th March and the Chairperson’s attendance as a keynote speaker at the NUS/USI Annual Conference on 23 rd April.

7. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.

8. Any Other Business

• Memo from the Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister – Salary threshold: Student loans
  The Committee noted the memo from the Committee for OFMdFM, in which it supported the salary threshold for student loan repayments.
• Correspondence from Joanne Stuart concerning the review of variable tuition fees and student finance arrangements
  Members noted the correspondence.
• Extract from Assembly Plenary question (AQO 2127/09
  Members noted the debate extract concerning the timescale for the development of the university site at Interpoint.
• Updated figures on Job Seekers Allowance uptake
  Members noted the updated figures.
• Departmental correspondence concerning apprentices
  Members noted the Departmental update in respect of apprentices who have been made redundant from the construction, engineering and motor vehicle sectors since 1 st April 2008, and their current status.
• CCEA’s Annual “Score” Concert
  Members noted an invitation, issued to all Members, to attend the CCEA’s annual concert on 27 th February 2009.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 th March 2009 at 11.00am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:04pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
4 March 2009