Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 09 May 2012
Venue: Room 30
The meeting opened at 10.02am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that Agenda items 4 and 5 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the Assembly website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 2 May 2012
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Table of Requests for Information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP)
The Committee noted the table of requests for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting at 10.03am
4. Superannuation Bill: Committee Stage – Evidence from the Equality Commission
The Committee took evidence from the following witnesses: Eileen Lavery, Head of Advice and Compliance, Equality Commission and Roisin Mallon, Policy Manager, Equality Commission. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 10.05am
5. Superannuation Bill: Committee Stage – Evidence from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
The Committee took evidence from the following witnesses: Dr. David Russell, Deputy Director, NI Human Rights Commission and Dr. Nazia Latif, Policy Worker, NI Human Rights Commission. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 10.23am
Mr Girvan joined the meeting at 10.23am
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide any additional information as requested during the evidence session.
6. Non-Domestic Revaluation - DFP Briefing
Members received a briefing from the following DFP officials: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, Central Finance Group; and Alan Brontё, Land and Property Services. Members noted that the Minister of Finance and Personnel would be issuing a press release on this subject following the briefing from departmental officials.
The DFP officials briefed members on progress to date in respect of the revaluation process and advised that the final cost of the exercise would be known after the business case was finalised.
Agreed: the DFP officials will provide the Committee with regular updates on progress.
Members noted correspondence regarding the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation’s conference, Succeeding in challenging times.
Agreed: that members will notify the Secretariat if they wish to attend this conference and that the Committee researcher will attend and provide the Committee with an update and copies of any papers provided at the event.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 10.53am
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 10.54am
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.06am
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.10am
Mr Bradley returned to the meeting at 11.15am
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.27am
7. Dormant Accounts – Written Briefing
The Committee considered correspondence from DFP regarding the Dormant Accounts scheme.
Agreed: to write to the Department requesting clarification on: whether banks and building societies can voluntarily transfer account balances that have been dormant for 15 years or more to the Reclaim Fund, or whether they are required to do so; and when the Committee can expect to see the priorities for distribution of funds.
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 11.34am
8. Subordinate Legislation
Members considered two pieces of subordinate legislation:
- SL1 – The Statistics and Registration Service Act (Disclosure of Social Security and Revenue Information) Regulations (NI) 2012
Agreed: to copy the proposal for a statutory rule to the Committee for Social Development for any comments it may have, before further consideration. An oral briefing from departmental officials will also be scheduled into the work programme.
- SR 2012/173 – The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (NI) 2012
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory had no issues to raise by way of technical scrutiny in relation to the Rule.
Agreed: that the Committee has considered The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (NI) 2012 and has no objection to the rule.
Mr Humphrey returned to the meeting at 11.36am
The meeting moved into closed session at 11.36am
9. Legislative Consent Motion: Air Passenger Duty – Initial consideration of draft Committee Report
The Committee undertook initial consideration of its report on the proposed Legislative Consent Motion on Air Passenger Duty. Members noted written submissions from York Aviation and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.45am
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11:47am
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11.48am
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 11.49am
Mr Maskey returned to the meeting at 11.50am
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.50am
Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting at 11.54am
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.54am
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.58am
Agreed: that members will forward any comments they wish to make on the draft report to Committee staff by noon on Friday 11 May. It was also agreed that all the further evidence received by the Committee would be publicised on the Assembly website.
The Committee moved into open session at 11.58am
10. Correspondence
- DFP: Response regarding North/South shared services.
- Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (HSSPS): Business in the Community briefing;
Agreed: to forward a copy of the briefing paper to the Minister of Finance and Personnel as requested.
- DFP: Utility regulation;
Agreed: to forward the DFP letter to the Committee for Regional Development and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for consideration.
- DFP: Response to HSSPS Committee regarding Protect Life Strategy.
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Future EU Funding.
- Committee for Social Development: Warm Homes Scheme.
Agreed: to ask DFP for details of its remit in this area, information of any planned developments in respect of Building Control fees and a response to the issues raised in the associated briefing paper from Bryson Charitable Group.
11. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme.
Agreed: that the Committee work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
12. Any Other Business
13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 16 May 2012 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.01pm
