Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 24 April 2012
Venue: Room 144
1.04pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Oliver McMullan
2. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2012
Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2012.
3. Departmental performance on Written Assembly Questions
The Committee noted statistics on the timescales for answering written Assembly questions for September to February 2009/10, and the same period in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
4. Mini Inquiry into Topical Questions
1.10pm Mr Lyttle joined the meeting.
Agreed: A draft letter inviting written submissions from stakeholders was agreed.
5. Amendments to Standing Order 49A(2)
1.11pm Mr Clarke joined the meeting.
The Chairperson advised Members that Standing Order 49A(2) needs to be amended to take account of the change in terminology from “District Policing Partnership” to “Policing and Community Safety Partnership” and “District Policing and Community Safety Partnership”.
Agreed: It was agreed that the draftsperson should be asked to produce the necessary amendments to Standing Orders for consideration at the next meeting.
6. Review of Standing Order 47
The Chairperson explained that, following the anticipated dissolution of the Department for Employment and Learning, it will be necessary to rerun d’Hondt for Ministers. As the related Ministerial offices will not have been filled following the election of the Assembly, the Chairperson advised Members that Standing Order 47 needs to be amended to reflect establishing the number and membership of statutory committees during the course of a mandate.
Agreed: It was agreed that the draftsperson should be asked to produce the necessary amendments to Standing Orders for consideration at the next meeting.
7. Forward Work Programme
The Committee was content with the Forward Work Programme.
8. Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
9. Any other Business
(a) Mr Allister requested that a research paper be produced on the status and functioning of “technical groups” in other legislatures.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a research paper on “technical groups” should be produced for consideration at the next meeting.
(b) The Chairperson reminded Members that the motions to amend Standing Orders are scheduled for debate on 30 April 2012.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 at 1.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1.17pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.
