Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 21 March 2012
Venue: Room 30
The meeting opened at 10.05am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that Agenda items 4 and 5 are covered by Hansard and the Official Report published on the Assembly website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 14 March 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. The Barnett Formula – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Bill Pauley, Head of Strategic Policy Division, Central Finance Group (CFG) and Peter Jakobson, Central Expenditure Division. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Hilditch joined the meeting at 10.06am
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.13am
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 10.23am
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 10.41am
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 10.43am
5. Annual Theft and Fraud Report – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts, CFG; Alison Caldwell, Head of Fraud and Internal Audit Policy, CFG and Colm Doran, Acting Head of Finance Branch, Corporate Services Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Humphrey returned to the meeting at 10.45am
Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting at 10.51am
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 10.58am
Mrs Cochrane left the meeting at 10.59am
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 11.00am
Mr Bradley returned to the meeting at 11.00am
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.09am
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.20am
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide any follow up information as requested during the session. The Committee will also forward additional issues not covered during the session to DFP for written response.
6. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the following items of subordinate legislation:
The Valuation Tribunal (Amendment No. 2) Rules (NI) 2012
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the proposal for the above statutory rule.
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP for comment.
SL1 – Pensions Increase (Review) Order (NI) 2012
Members noted the above proposal, which is not subject to any Assembly procedure.
SR 2012/106 – The Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012
Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report will not be available until 20 April 2012. However, the Examiner had advised informally that there are no issues to raise by way of technical scrutiny with regard to the Rule.
Agreed: that the Committee has considered The Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule’s final report, has no objection to the Rule.
7. Correspondence
Members considered the following items of correspondence:
DFP: Disposal of Records Schedule;
- Agreed: to request a briefing from DFP when the Retention and Disposal Sub-group reports to the Information Governance Board in June 2012.
- DFP: Forecast Outturn Reports.
Committee for Social Development: Green New Deal. - DFP: NICS Live 2012;
Agreed: that members will respond to the invitation individually. - IPPR article: “Called to account – Why Hodge is right on civil service scrutiny.”
- Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM): Abolition of the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) and transfer of functions – list of stakeholders consulted by the Committee for Employment and Learning.
- DFP: Abolition of DEL;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the Employment and Learning and OFMDFM committees.
8. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme.
Budget 2012
Agreed: to request a briefing from DFP on the implications of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget 2012 for Northern Ireland.
Superannuation Bill
Agreed: to hold the 27 March 2012 meeting in the Senate Chamber to facilitate an evidence panel with trade union representatives.
Agreed: to forward any written evidence from stakeholders to DFP for comment when the Committee receives it, to ensure there is no delay in gaining Departmental responses to issues raised.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.31am
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.31am
Members considered a Secretariat paper outlining a proposed list of witnesses in relation to Committee Stage of the Superannuation Bill.
Agreed: that Committee staff will make initial contact with the potential witnesses identified. Members will also notify Committee staff of any other potential witnesses.
Agreed: that the Committee work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
9. Any Other Business
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 March at 10.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.34pm
