Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.04am in public session. 

1. Apologies.

There were no apologies.

Agreed: that Agenda item 5 is recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the Assembly website.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 25 April 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.

4. Legislative Consent Motion: Air Passenger Duty (APD) – Briefing from Assembly Research

The Committee received a briefing from Assembly Research on the Legislative Consent Motion for the devolution of APD.

Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 10.07am

Mrs Cochrane joined the meeting at 10.09am

Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.12am

Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 10.28am

Mr Girvan left the meeting at 10.32am

Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 10.33am

Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.33am

5. Legislative Consent Motion: Air Passenger Duty – Evidence from DFP Officials

The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Bill Pauley, Head of Strategic Policy Division, Central Finance Group (CFG); and Dr Veronica Holland, CFG.

Agreed: to request a copy of the full analysis undertaken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in respect of APD and Northern Ireland passenger numbers in May 2011.

6. Regional Pay – DFP Briefing

The Committee received a briefing from the following DFP officials: Bill Pauley, Head of Strategic Policy Division, CFG; and William Dickson, Strategic Policy Division.

Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.20am

Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.23am

Agreed: the DFP officials will notify the Committee when the reports of the Independent Pay Review Bodies are available; and will keep the Committee updated on any developments on this issue.

7. Superannuation Bill

To assist its consideration of the Superannuation Bill, the Committee received a briefing from Assembly Research on the paper, “Consultation: legal requirements and good practice.”

Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.49am

Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.50am

Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.50am

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 11.52am

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding the Department’s planned engagement with the trade unions on the provisions of the Superannuation Bill.

Agreed: to seek the views of DFP and the trade unions on the issues raised in the Research paper.   

The Committee also considered a draft motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill until 28 September 2012.

Mr Leslie Cree left the meeting at 12.01am

Mr Paul Maskey left the meeting at 12.02am

Agreed: that the motion be laid in the Business Office.

8. Correspondence

• DFP: PEDU role in monitoring the Programme for Government;

Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the other statutory committees for information.

• Steven Agnew MLA: Private Members’ Bill Consultation.
• Extracts from Treasury document, “Improving spending control”;

Agreed: to request a briefing note from DFP on the implications of the Treasury document for the Executive and departments.

• Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (CETI): Request for update on Public Procurement;

Agreed: to ask DFP to provide an update on implementation of the previous Finance Committee’s public procurement inquiry recommendations, for sharing with CETI as requested.

• DFP: Review of Budget Allocations 2013-14 and 2014-15;

Agreed: to notify the Minister of the Committee’s concerns regarding this process, which have again highlighted the need to establish protocols between the Executive and the Assembly on the information and time requirements for Assembly input on budgetary matters;

Agreed: to copy the Minister’s correspondence to the other statutory committees; and seek clarification of whether statutory committees are receiving the stated financial information and data from their departments, including in-year monitoring round and Forecast Outturn information.

• Note of Chairpersons’ Liaison Group, 17 April 2012.

9. Committee Work Programme

Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme.

Commission on Devolution in Wales

The Chairperson reminded members that they had previously agreed to meet with representatives from the Commission on Devolution in Wales during their forthcoming visit.  Members noted that a meeting has been scheduled for 12 noon on Monday 21 May. Staff will contact members separately to check availability.

Agreed: that the Committee work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.

10. Any Other Business

11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9 May at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.12pm

Conor Murphy MP MLA
Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
9 May 2012