Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 06 June 2012
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened at 10.05am in public session.
Mrs Cochrane joined the meeting at 10.06am.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that Agenda items 4, 5, 6 and 7 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the Assembly website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 30 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.
Committee for Justice: Equal Pay
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding equal pay issues.
Provisional Outturn 2011-12
The Committee noted follow-up information provided by DFP following last week’s evidence session on the Provisional Outturn for 2011-12.
Agreed: that members would raise further queries if issues were not adequately addressed in the DFP correspondence.
4. Main Estimates and Budget (No. 2) Bill – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee held an evidence session with the following DFP official: Jeff McGuinness, Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 10.10am
Agreed: that the Chairperson will write to the Minister to: register the Committee’s dissatisfaction with the continued delay in the provision of the Estimates, Budget (No. 2) Bill and accompanying briefing paper; request an explanation for the delay; and seek an assurance that the necessary documents will be provided as a matter of urgency. It was further agreed that this letter would be copied to the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group and the Speaker for information.
Agreed: that a Secretariat briefing paper and legal advice will be provided to inform the Committee’s decision on whether to grant accelerated passage.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 10.21am
5. Future of Rates Element of Housing Benefit – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee held an evidence session with the following DFP officials: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, Central Finance Group and Dr Veronica Holland, Rating Policy Division, Central Finance Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP updating members on the future of Rates Element of Housing Benefit. Members also noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development in relation to same.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide follow up information as requested during the session.
6. Legislative Consent Motion: Local Government Finance Bill – DFP Evidence
The Committee held an evidence session with the following DFP officials: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, Central Finance Group and Dr Veronica Holland, Rating Policy Division, Central Finance Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Committee noted two items of correspondence from DFP on this subject.
The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 8 on Subordinate Legislation next.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 10.47am
The Committee considered the following statutory rule:
SR 2012/215 – The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Disclosure of Social Security Information) Regulations (NI) 2012
Agreed: that the Committee has considered The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Disclosure of Social Security Information) Regulations (NI) 2012 and, subject to the views of the Committee for Social Development, recommends that the rule is affirmed by the Assembly.
The Committee also noted the following Commencement Orders:
- The Building Regulations (2009 Amendment Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (NI) 2012
- The Building Regulations (1979 Order) (Commencement No. 3) Order (NI) 2012
The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 9 on Correspondence next.
8. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
- Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Review of Budget Allocations;
- DFP: Restructuring of Corporate Services;
- Correspondence from Commission on Devolution in Wales.
The meeting suspended at 10.49am
The meeting resumed at 11.02am
9. June Monitoring Round: Departmental Position – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee held an evidence session with the following DFP officials: Brigitte Worth, Acting Head of Finance Branch, Corporate Services Group and Janis Marynowski, Finance Branch, Corporate Services Group. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Committee noted a briefing paper from DFP on the June Monitoring position.
Mr Girvan joined the meeting at 11.08pm
10. 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.
11. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 13 June 2012 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.15pm
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.16pm
