Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2010/2011
Date: 10 November 2010
COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Daithí McKay MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)
Mr Gareth Brown (Bursary Student)
The meeting commenced at 10.07am in open session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions at Agenda items 4, 5, 6 and 7 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 3 November 2010
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Composite Request
The Committee noted the composite request for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Queens University Support Fund
Members noted correspondence from Queens University Student Union to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding support funds for students and the related correspondence to the Minister from the Committee Chairperson.
Agreed: to copy the response to a written Assembly question on this matter to all Committee members.
Ms Purvis joined the meeting at 10.09am.
DFP: Follow up to query on £18 billion long term investment strategy
Members noted correspondence from DFP relating to a query raised during last week’s evidence session.
Agreed: to request confirmation that DFP is pursuing the anomalies between the Department’s and the Westminster Government’s calculations the £18bn capital investment commitment; to establish if a commitment is being sought from the Westminster Government in respect of the remaining £4bn in the two years following the spending review period; and to seek clarification regarding the inclusion and treatment of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative funding within the calculations.
Agreed: to copy the DFP correspondence and follow up Committee correspondence to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (COFMDFM) for information.
Mr Frew joined the meeting at 10.11am.
Engaging with Stakeholders on Spending Review and Budget 2011-15
The Committee considered a Secretariat paper outlining options for stakeholder engagement on the Spending Review and Budget 2011-15, which included the Research briefing note, Budget Simulators and Participatory Budgeting.
Mr McKay joined the meeting at 10.15am.
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.20am.
Agreed: to seek clarification from DFP on what provision it has made for consulting with stakeholders and the wider public on the Executive’s Draft Budget, including at a sector level, and to request a report on the outcome of this consultation. The Department will also be asked for its view on the potential for using online “budget simulators” in the public consultation on the Draft Budget.
Agreed: to establish whether the Business Alliance, the NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) are planning stakeholder/engagement events on the Draft Budget.
Armed Forces and Veterans Bill
The Committee considered DFP’s views on the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to COFMDFM, with confirmation that the Committee is content with the points raised by DFP that the lead responsibility for managing the cross cutting and equality issues would rest more appropriately with OFMDFM.
4. DFP Preparations for Budget 2011-15
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: David Orr, Corporate Services Director, Corporate Services Group; Deborah McNeilly, Finance Director, Corporate Services Group; and Brigitte Worth, Finance Branch, Corporate Services Group.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 10.30am.
Mr Frew left the meeting at 10.46am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 10.55am.
Mr Frew returned to the meeting at 10.57am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 10.59am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.09am.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.20am.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.20am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.21am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.25am.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.26am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.28am.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.31am.
Agreed: that the Departmental officials will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
5. DFP Implementation of the NI Audit Office Efficiencies Checklist
In view of time constraints, the Committee agreed not to take oral evidence on the implementation of the NI Audit Office’s Efficiencies Checklist in DFP. The Committee will instead forward a list of issues to the Department for written response.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.32am.
6. Spending Review & Budget 2011-15 – Evidence from NI Council for Voluntary Action
Members took evidence from the following witnesses: Seamus McAleavey, NICVA; Bob Stronge, Advice NI; Margaret Kelly, Barnardos.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.34am.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.38am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.51am.
Mr Frew left the meeting at 11.56am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 12.10pm.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.15pm.
Mr Frew returned to the meeting at 12.16pm.
Ms Purvis returned to the meeting at 12.20pm.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.26pm.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.27pm.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.27pm.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 12.29pm.
Agreed: the witnesses will provide a paper in follow up to the evidence session, to include information both on the longer-term preventative spending measures being taken forward by the voluntary sector and on specific public services and policies that could be delivered more efficiently by the voluntary sector.
7. Spending Review & Budget 2011-15 – Evidence from Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
Members took evidence from the following witnesses: Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary, ICTU NI; Avril Hall-Callaghan, Chair, ICTU NI Committee; Pamela Dooley, Unison; Brian Campfield, General Secretary, Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 12.34pm.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 1.05pm.
Mr Frew left the meeting at 1.14pm.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 1.20pm.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 1.23pm.
Agreed: the witnesses will provide a paper in follow up to the evidence session, detailing proposals in respect of savings and revenue raising options.
9. Correspondence
The Committee agreed to consider the correspondence requiring decisions at its next meeting on 17 November. The following items of correspondence were noted:
- COFMDFM: Investing Activity Report October 2010
- COFMDFM: Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework Baseline Report
- DFP: Consultation on the Road Traffic (Financial Penalty Deposit) (Interest) Order (NI)
- Advice NI: Invite to Annual General Meeting
- Bank of Ireland: Consolidation of business support activities
- DFP: Draft Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill (NI) 2010
- DFP: Account NI and prompt payment of invoices follow up
- DFP: HR Connect follow up
10. Committee Work Programme
Barnados NI: Request to Brief Committee
Members considered correspondence from Barnados NI requesting the opportunity to brief members on protecting vulnerable children in a time of public spending austerity.
Agreed: to request a written submission in the first instance.
Agreed: that the work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
11. Any Other Business
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 November 2010 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings. This will be followed by a concurrent meeting with the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on banking issues at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 1.29pm.
