Finance Committee Asks For Ministerial Statement On Data Loss

At its meeting today, the Assembly Committee for Finance and Personnel discussed the recent loss of data in relation to child benefit claimants, from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Members agreed that the Minister of Finance and Personnel should be asked to make a statement at the earliest opportunity to address the concerns of those affected in Northern Ireland.

ENDS

Notes for editors :

1. The Committee for Finance and Personnel is one of 11 Statutory Committees of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which are set up to advise and assist each Northern Ireland Minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within his/her responsibilities as a Minister. Statutory Committees have powers as described in Strand One of the Belfast Agreement i.e. a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the department with which each is associated, together with a role in the initiation of legislation.
2. As per paragraph 9 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement, Statutory Committees have the power to:
   1. consider and advise on departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
   2. approve relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of relevant primary legislation;
   3. call for persons and papers;
   4. initiate inquiries and make reports; and
   5. consider and advise on matters brought to the Committee by its minister.

    

3. Committee Members:

Mitchel McLaughlin (Chairperson) (Sinn Fein)
Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson) (DUP)
Roy Beggs (UUP) 
Dr Stephen Farry (Alliance) 
Simon Hamilton (DUP) 
Fra McCann (Sinn Fein) 
Jennifer McCann (Sinn Fein) 
Adrian McQuillan (DUP) 
Declan O’Loan (SDLP) 
Dawn Purvis (PUP) 
Peter Weir (DUP)

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