Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.02 am.

Apologies

There were no apologies.

1. Minutes of the meetings held on 16 February 2011 and 22 February 2011

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Ofqual on its work in Northern Ireland

Dame Sandra Burslem, Chairperson of the Ofqual Board and member of the Ofqual Northern Ireland Committee, Joan Gormley, Head of Operations in Northern Ireland, and Ray Coughlin, Northern Ireland representative on the Ofqual Board and Chair of the Ofqual Northern Ireland Committee, briefed the Committee on the regulation of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

10.11 am Mr Sydney Anderson joined the meeting

10.24 am Mr Jonathan Bell joined the meeting

10.26 am Mr John McCallister joined the meeting

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

10.28 am Mr John McCallister left the meeting

3. Matters Arising

• DEL Action Plans for Children and Young People

Members noted the above Plans forwarded by the Department

• USDAW ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chief Constable regarding the above campaign, and agreed to forward it to USDAW for information

• European Engagement

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence on European Engagement from the OFMDFM Committee, and agreed to reconsider this issue at a subsequent meeting.

• Training Allowances

Agreed: Members considered information provided by the Department on various allowances payable to trainees, and agreed to request further details

10.55 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting

10.55 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting

4. Briefing from Departmental officials on the proposed merger of Stranmillis College and Queen’s University, Belfast

The Committee received an update from Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, and Billy Lyttle, Head of Higher Education Finance, on the progress which has been made towards the merger of Stranmillis College with Queen’s University.

10.57 am Mr Pat Ramsey rejoined the meeting

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

5. Consideration of the Committee response to the draft Budget 2011-2015

Agreed: The Committee continued its consideration of the Department’s draft Budget and agreed to finalise its response by the end of the week

6. Primary Legislation

• Legislative Consent Motion on the Public Bodies Bill 2011

Agreed: The Committee considered the above Motion and agreed that it had no objection to it. The Committee agreed to clarify the regulatory responsibilities attaching to the Department and to Ofqual.

7. Subordinate Legislation

• SL1: The Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Committee considered the above SL1 proposal, and agreed that it was content for the Department to proceed to make the statutory rule

• Labour Relations Agency Draft Code of Practice

The Committee was content to note this Code, which has been laid in draft in the Assembly.

8. Correspondence

Members considered a number of items of correspondence, including a letter from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, thanking the Committee for its actions on behalf of the university’s bid Confucius Institute. Members endorsed the actions taken in support of the bid.

9. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at informal meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations received.

10. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of recent Departmental and other press releases.

11. Any Other Business

• ETI Report on Essential Skills at SERC

Agreed : The Committee noted the receipt of the above Report and agreed to consider this issue at its next meeting.

• Forward Work Programme

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme up to the end of the Mandate

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 2 March 2011 at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Building

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.44 am

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning

2 March 2011