Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 19 June 2013
Venue: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened in public session at 10.11 am.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Assembly Research and Information Service Briefing on Financial Forecasting
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 7.
The Assembly Researcher joined the meeting at 10.12 am.
The Committee was briefed by Mr Michael Heery, Researcher, Assembly Research and Information Service on Financial Forecasting.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
10.17 am. Mr McCann joined the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for comment on the issues raised during the briefing.
The Assembly Researcher left the meeting at 10.20 am.
3. Chairperson's Business
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 2.
• The Chairperson advised Members that the Public Consultation document Sharing Parental Rights, Extending Flexibility was posted in Members pigeon holes.
• The Chairperson informed Members that he and the Clerk had met with the Minister on 18 June 2013, ahead of the Minister's statement in Plenary relating to Procurement and introduction to the Steps 2 Success Programme.
• The Chairperson advised Members that the Public Service Pensions Bill had its First Stage on 17 June 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to those organisations and the relevant Trade Unions which come under the auspices of the Department, seeking their views on the implications of the Bill.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2013
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 3.
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.
5. Matters arising
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 4.
• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.
• The Committee considered the briefing received by School Employers Connect at its meeting on 12 June 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the School Employer Connect briefing paper and Hansard should be included as part of the Inquiry.
• The Committee considered the briefing received by Derry City Council at its meeting on 12 June 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper on District Council Employment Schemes and other similar initiatives and a breakdown of how they work in practice.
6. Correspondence
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 5.
The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:
• Departmental response to comments raised during the Post 19 SEN Lobby Group briefing on 15 May 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response and copy it to the Post 19 SEN Lobby Group for information and write to the Department requesting an update on the completion of the audit.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on how it intends to address the gap in services for those Post 19 SEN individuals in Dungannon and whether there are any plans to:
• increase the number of places in programmes or social enterprises available in the Dungannon area;
• increase the number of social firms in the Dungannon area, preferably in horticulture and catering;
• provide further supported employment and further education opportunities; and
• support Parkanaur College to offer daytime education and training opportunities.
• Correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Department regarding the EU Budget for Youth Unemployment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
• Departmental response to the Committee request for further information regarding the Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Departmental response to the Committee request for further information regarding the Savings Delivery Plans.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Departmental response to the Committee request for further information on the Department's engagement with the European Commission on the issue of undeclared work.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and to write to the Department for Social Development to request an update on this issue.
• Departmental response to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment correspondence regarding Third Sector Mapping.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper providing further information on issues raised during a briefing on the European Commission Work Programme on 5 June 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the briefing paper.
• Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper on 3rd International Symposium on Expertise in Sustainable Society.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the briefing paper.
• Departmental response to the Committee request for further information on additional payments for the Steps 2 Success Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Correspondence from Belfast Metropolitan College advising that a member of its staff is to take part in the "Engaging Pupils in STEM – Sharing Good Practice" teachers' course at CERN.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
• Invitation from Belfast Metropolitan College to attend an event to celebrate Disability Awareness Week on the 24 June 2013 at Belfast Met.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.
7. Forward Work Programme
The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 6.
• The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 4 September 2013.
8. Departmental briefing on the Final Programme for Government Return 2012 - 2013
Officials joined the meeting at 10.32 am.
The Committee was briefed Ms June Ingram, Director of Skills Industry, Mr Billy Lyttle, Head of Higher Education Finance, Mr Victor Dukelow, Deputy Director Analytical Services, and Mr Daryl Young, Deputy Director of Further Education on Commitment 25 in the Programme for Government.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on those 140,000 qualifications achieved by level and course type.
Mr Jim Russell, Deputy Director, Employment Service joined the meeting at 10.49 am.
Mr Victor Dukelow and Mr Daryl Young left the meeting at 10.50 am.
The Officials briefed the Committee on Commitment 20 in the Programme for Government.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Officials agreed to provide the Committee with a geographic breakdown of the home location of those taking up STEM places.
Ms June Ingram and Mr Billy Lyttle left the meeting at 10.59 am.
The Official briefed the Committee on Commitment 27 in the Programme for Government.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment urging them to ensure that the draft Economic Inactivity Strategy be agreed by September 2013.
The Official briefed the Committee on Commitment 36 in the Programme for Government.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Official left the meeting at 11.31 am.
9. Departmental briefing on the Review of Employment Law
The officials joined the meeting at 11.32 am.
The Committee was briefed by Mr Tom Evans, Deputy Director, Strategy, European and Employment Relations Division and Mr Conor Brady, Head of Employment Relations Policy and Legislation Branch on the Review of Employment Law.
11.34 am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting.
11.36 am Mr McCann left the meeting.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Hilditch declared his interest as a member of the Staffing sub-group on Carrickfergus Borough Council.
The officials left the meeting at 12.01 pm.
10. Any other Business
None.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday 26 June 2013 at 10:30 am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.01 pm.
