MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 29 JUNE 2000.

PRESENT: Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Rev R Coulter
Mr J Dallat
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Kelly
Mrs M McWilliams
Mrs M Nelis

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mr C Jones and Mrs C McGrattan

 1. Apologies

Mervyn Carrick, Roy Beggs and William Hay.
Roger Hutchinson and Joe Byrne for early departure.
John Kelly and Bob Coulter for late arrival.
Monica McWilliams for late arrival and early departure.

 2. Minutes of Meeting on Thursday 22 June 2000. (Closed Session)

Agreed.

3. Matters Arising

 (a) Advisers for Committee Enquiry

Noted.

Dr Steedman cannot now attend on Thursday 6 July but will prepare a paper for distribution at the meeting.

David Armstrong (Price Waterhouse Coopers) will submit documentation (including his fee) to support his bid to be an adviser to the enquiry.

Agreed.

During recess, Committee staff will produce a list of potential advisers, in categories agreed at the meeting on 1 June 2000. Members' proposals for inclusions to be submitted prior to recess.

Standard letter for issue to potential advisers to be considered at the meeting on 4 July.

4. Evidence (Open Session) from:

The Chairman welcomed the witnesses.

Bill McGinnis (Chairman, T&EA, also Chairman, New Deal and Skills Taskforce);
Tom Scott (Director, Skills and Industry Division, T&EA); and
Michael Anyadike-Danes (Director, Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre).

Following brief introductory remarks, the witnesses answered Members' questions on the following topics:

  • Bottlenecks in providing certain skills for traditional industries;

  • The effects of the decline in employment in the textile industry;

  • Retraining needs in the agricultural sector;

  • Geographic location of pilot training schemes in areas of highest urban population;

  • Availability of modern apprenticeships and the mix between vocational education and training;

  • Simplification of the Jobskills Programme and re-focusing it on priority skills areas;

  • The format and structure of the New Deal project;

  • Future plans for the Walsh Visa Programme taking account of the experience of participants to date;

  • Statistical research carried out by the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre into the makeup of the Northern Ireland labour market;

  • Research work carried out by the Priority Skills Unit within the NIERC;

  • Methodology used by the NIERC to determine the skills needs of employers;

  • The demand for new IT graduates in Northern Ireland;

  • The changing attitude in grammar schools - directing pupils into industry rather than the professions;

  • Tourism Training Trust and its role in promoting high standards in the hospitality industry; and

  • The forthcoming launch of the University for Industry in the Autumn.

Hansard recorded details of this evidence session, the transcript of which will form an Annex to any Committee report which may be laid before the Assembly.

Dr Birnie expressed his appreciation for their attendance and indicated that, as the enquiry developed, they may be asked to attend again as witnesses.

5. Chairman's Business (Closed Session)

(a) Draft Press Notice for meeting on 4 July

Agreed as amended.

 (b) DHFETE New TSN Action Plan

 Agreed.

Committee Clerk to seek assistance from Assembly Research and draft response for consideration at the meeting on Tuesday 4 July. Members' views in the form of brief bullet points to be forwarded to Committee staff by Friday 30 June.

6. AOB

(a) Transcripts for the evidence session with John Simpson on Thursday 22 June were issued to Members, who were asked to notify Committee staff of any errors by Monday 3 July. No one has yet advised of any amendments to the transcript for Dr Robson Davison.

(b) Minister's retrospective diary details to 23 June 2000 were included in Members' folders.

(c) A video copy of the UTV Insight programme featuring several case studies in receipt of European Peace Funding had been obtained and is held in the Committee office.

Next meeting set for Tuesday 4/7/00 at 12:30pm or whenever the House rises for lunch.

Meeting closed at 4:10pm.

Esmond Birnie

ESMOND BIRNIE
CHAIRMAN
6 July 2000