Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 2.10 p.m.

Apologies

As above.

1.  Chairperson’s Business

Big Lottery Fund Briefing

The Chairperson advised Members that today’s briefing from the Big Lottery Fund will be rescheduled due to illness.

Committee Invitations

The Committee noted the list of current invitations.

2.  Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2012

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 7 March 2012 was agreed by the Committee.

3. Matters Arising

Post Project Evaluations

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on the Department’s outstanding Post Project Evaluations.

Women into Politics

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further   information on funding for Women into Politics.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek feedback from Women into Politics following their meeting with Departmental officials.

Fort George

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing clarification on the ownership and transfer of the Fort George site.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Social Development to seek further information on the transfer of the Fort George site and plans to develop it.

List of Outstanding Issues

The Committee noted the list of outstanding issues.

4.  Correspondence

Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights

The Committee considered correspondence from the Department providing further information on Northern Ireland’s input to the UK’s Report to the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department in relation to the reference to the lack of available data on gender, the headings in the Northern Ireland Input and reference to race and ethnic minority issues.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing a copy of a briefing from the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit on monitoring and reporting arrangements in relation to the Programme for Government.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on whether there are any independent members on the Central Monitoring Team or Programme Board.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing a copy of a Research Paper on Linking Budgets to Outcomes: International Experience.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on the Research Paper into its Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission a budget briefing from Departmental officials to include the Department’s spending plans, anticipated pressures and savings plans, for 2012-13.

Annual Reports

The Committee noted copies of the Annual Reports of the Special EU Programmes Body and the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland.

5.  Summary of Responses to the Consultation on the Social Investment Fund

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.26 p.m.

Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 2.45 p.m.

Departmental officials, Mr Henry Johnston and Mr Ricky Irwin briefed the Committee on the summary of responses to the consultation on the Social Investment Fund. A question and answer session followed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the criteria used to develop the Social Investment Zones.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.12 p.m.

6.  SR – Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Committee considered the statutory rule Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Question put and agreed:                        

That the Committee has considered the Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012, SR2012/96 and, subject to the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.

7. Any Other Business

Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: Information regarding the Community Relations Discussion event would be circulated to Members.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 14 March 2012 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.18 p.m.

Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister