Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.07 am.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Agreed: Members agreed they were content for Committee attendance statistics to be published on the Assembly website.

Agreed: Members agreed to schedule a briefing with UNISON regarding University of Ulster outsourcing.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

10.13am Mr McElduff joined the meeting.

10.14am Mr Buchanan joined the meeting.

• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.
• The Committee considered a RaISE briefing paper on Filipino Seafarers in Northern Ireland - Impact of proposed European Union Legislation.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a copy of the research paper to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities for its information.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to arrange a briefing via video link with the Thematic Desk Office in Brussels to receive an update on his work.

• The Committee noted the RaISE Briefing paper on Key European Issues of Note to the Committee for Employment and Learning.

5. Briefing from the Minister for Employment and Learning on DEL related issues

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.15 am.

The Committee was briefed by the Minister, Stephen Farry, Mrs Catherine Bell CBE, Deputy Secretary and Mrs Nuala Kerr, Director of Higher Education on Department for Employment and Learning related issues.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and ask for the student entry figures for Higher Education in 2012-2013 and schedule a briefing when they become available.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information regarding the budget for adult apprenticeships.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and ask for details of the cost incurred as a result of the admissions issues at University of Ulster.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and ask to be kept informed of the consultation between the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department for Regional Development regarding widening participation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting that it be kept informed on the arrangements for a round table event on the Learner Access and Engagement Programme (LAEP) to include community groups, the Committee, the Department and the Further Education Colleges.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.28 am

6. Briefing from Department of Finance and Personnel Officials on NISRA Quarterly Labour Market Statistics

The representatives joined the meeting at 11.29 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr James Gillen, Head of Economic & Labour Market Statistics, NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and Mr Dave Rodgers, Co-Head of Analytical Services, Department for Employment and Learning on the NISRA Quarterly Labour Market Statistics.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11.43am Mr McElduff left the meeting.

11.55am Mr Allister left the meeting.

11.58am Mr Ramsey left the meeting.

12.01pm Mr McIlveen left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request information on the claimant count rates at a more local level by constituency, ward level and super output areas.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further details on youth immigration.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a further briefing when the next quarterly Labour Market Statistics are published.

The representative left the meeting at 12.16 pm.

7. Briefing from Invest NI on FP7 and Horizon 2020

Representatives joined the meeting at 12.17 pm.

The Committee was briefed by Dr Joanne Coyle, Manager, Innovation, Policy & EU Collaboration Team, Dr Robert Bunn, Collaborative Support Executive and Dr Lisa O’Reilly, Collaborative Support Executive on FP7 and Horizon 2020.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.20pm Mr McElduff rejoined the meeting.

12.29pm Mr Allister rejoined the meeting.

12.46pm Mr Buchanan left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to copy the Hansard of the briefing to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for information and comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Invest NI and ask why they do not audit job creation outcomes as a result of the services it provides.

1.03pm Mr Buchanan rejoined the meeting.

Representatives left the meeting at 1.02 pm.

8. Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland

The Committee discussed how to proceed with the Committee Inquiry into Careers education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to schedule a joint briefing with the Department of Employment and Learning and the Department for Education.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a series of briefing sessions with the organisations that responded to the inquiry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Education indicating that the inquiry is a matter of joint concern.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to copy all relevant information from the Inquiry to the Committee for Education.

9. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered SR 2012 No. 283, The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Question put and agreed:

 “That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered SR 2012 No. 283, The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012, and has no objection to the rule.”

10. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered SR 2012 No. 306, The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Question put and agreed:

 “That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered SR 2012 No. 306, The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, and has no objection to the rule.”

11. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered SR 2012 No. 301, The Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Question put and agreed:

 “That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered SR 2012 No. 301, The Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2012, and has no objection to the rule.”

12. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered the SL1 proposal for The Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to proceed to make the Statutory Rule.

1.11pm Mr Lyttle left the meeting.

13. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Department paper on currency fluctuation for ESF funding.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this paper.

• Departmental response to request that the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) be consulted on the Review of Employment Law.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response to correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the monitoring of Post-Project Evaluations (PPE’s).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Ministerial response to correspondence from the Committee for Education on the Special Education Need (SEN) and Inclusion Review.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to the Committee for Education for information.

• Departmental public consultation document - A Consultation On the Proposed New Employment Programme for Northern Ireland - Steps 2 Success (NI).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from Departmental Officials.

• Ministerial correspondence providing further information regarding the review of industrial relations in North West Regional College (NWRC).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response to Committee request for Departmental officials to brief the Committee on Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence and schedule a briefing from the Department.

• Departmental response to Committee correspondence regarding an update on the implementation of the ‘Preparing for Success’ programme and its launch event in June 2011.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Education to ascertain who attended the launch event.

• Departmental response to Committee correspondence regarding the introduction of the UK Work Programme for Northern Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence and to forward to the Committee for Social Development.

• Departmental response to Committee correspondence regarding their approach to Further Education.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental Apprenticeship Occupancy totals as of 1 August 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Joint Department for Employment and Learning and Department for Education draft Executive paper on the subject of a General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) Bill.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this draft paper.

• Joint Department for Employment and Learning and Department for Education consultation on the proposal to cease publication of the Statistical Press Release ‘Participation in Full-Time Education and Vocational Training by 16 & 17 Year Olds in Northern Ireland’.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this consultation.

• Departmental correspondence relating to the 2007 ASLEF -v- UK decision and its non-implementation in Northern Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response to the Committee’s  request for information regarding Filipino Agency Workers in Northern Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence and forward it to NICEM for information.

• Departmental quarterly progress report on the work of the Thematic Desk Officer in Brussels.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental Apprenticeship Occupancy totals as of 1 September 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Education requesting to be kept up to date on the Committee inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Response from Moy Park Ltd to the Committee request for further information on employment practises with regard to agency workers.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing paper on this issue.

• Correspondence from Pat Ramsey MLA to the Department for Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry MLA, regarding North West Regional College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Confederation of British Industry report ‘Work in progress: fulfilling the potential of the work programme’.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this report.

• Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister Consultation Paper on a Legislative Proposal for an Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed submit a response by 28 September 2012.

• Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister request for a report on the Committee’s activity on European Issues during the period of May 2011 to August 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed submit a response by 28 September 2012.

• Correspondence from the Minister for Education responding to the Committee’s invitation to submit a response to the inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from the House of Lords notifying of a debate on the Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe Report on 11 October 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding their Inquiry into Creative Industries.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from NICVA responding to the Committee request for additional information following the briefing on 4 July 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from Grainne McKeown highlighting concerns about the enrolment process at Belfast Metropolitan College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond Ms McKeown on the issues raised.

• Ministerial response to the concerns raised in relation to the enrolment process at Belfast Metropolitan College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from Belfast Metropolitan College responding to the concerns raised in relation to the enrolment process at the college
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from The Lord Morrow MLA relating to his proposed Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill Consultation.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Lord Morrow and wish him well with the consultation.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the All Party Group on Human Trafficking and wish them well with the consultation.

• Response from Queen’s University, Belfast on the issues raised in relation to Higher Education in the Assembly RaISE Research Paper ‘Key European Issues of Note to the Committee for Employment and Learning’.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) consultation on the process of developing the post 2013 Cross Border PEACE and INTERREG programmes.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from Mr Nazmul Istiak regarding funding and graduation issues with South Eastern Regional College (SERC).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence and forward it to SERC for their information.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Mr Istiak and inform him of the course of action agreed.

• The Committee also noted invitations received.

14. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 7 November 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to schedule these briefings.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold its meeting on 26 September 2012 at the Britannic Suite in the Titanic Building, Belfast at 11.00 am.

15. Any Other Business

• Barry McElduff raised an issue regarding CAO admissions in the Republic of Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper on this issue.

16. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday, 19 September 2012, at 10.00 am in Armagh Planetarium, Armagh.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.22 pm.

Mr Basil McCrea
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
19 September 2012