THIRTY-SEVENTH MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEEAT 2.00PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS,ON THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2001
Present: Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mrs J Carson Mr J Dallat
Mr W Hay Mr J Kelly
Mr R Hutchinson
Mrs M McWilliams
Apologies: Mr R Beggs
Mrs M Nelis
In attendance: Mrs E Sung
Dr A Peoples Mr C Jones Ms A Colville
Mrs C McGrattan
Meeting commenced at 2:10pm.
Prior to the meeting, the Chairman made a presentation to Mrs Sung, the outgoing Clerk, and thanked her for her impartial and knowledgeable contribution. This was endorsed by representatives of all parties represented in Committee. The Chairman also welcomed the new Clerk, Dr Andrew Peoples, who would be taking over from next week.
1. Draft Minutes of meeting held on 15 December 2000
Agreed. Proposed: Monica McWilliams. Seconded: Roger Hutchinson.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 Correspondence from Association of University Teachers
Noted.
The Minister's response had given no information on the quantum or detail of the read across of additional allocations in the Blunkett package for higher education. Accordingly, the Chairman had written again to the Minister to re-enforce the view that any additional money received should be partly used to increase staff pay and conditions in higher education.
The Minister stated in his response that he was currently considering the future of NIHEC.
Agreed.
The Chairman's request to the Minister and his response to the Association of University Teachers to be included for examination at the next meeting.
2.2 Status of the Training and Employment Agency
Noted and agreed.
The exchange of letters with the Minister was considered again. There were still questions outstanding, which could be dealt with when the Minister attended later in the month.
Clerk to inform the Department that Fridays were unsuitable for the Committee to meet with the Minister. Members had allocated Fridays to constituency work, but could meet with the Minister earlier in the week.
A letter had been sent to the Minister listing the Committee's remaining concerns on the student finance package and inviting the Minister to brief the Committee on the emerging detail. Additionally, the letter reiterated those areas previously agreed by Members, which they would wish to cover in the session. The Committee would need to think further as to whether all these areas could be covered in a session of approximately one and a half hours.
The Minister's reply to the Committee's query on costings of the proposed student finance package was also considered. It was noted that the costs of fee abolition for full-time HE courses applied to the total of Northern Ireland domiciled students and EU students studying in Northern Ireland. The Committee had never received separate figures for EU students studying here.
2.3 Briefing on "Unlocking Creativity"
Noted.
Members had been invited to a briefing on 8 February 2001, on the "Unlocking Creativity" document launched jointly by the Ministers of DCAL, DE, DETI and DHFETE on 8 November. This had been distributed to Members before Christmas.
Agreed.
Clerk to commission research on those aspects of the document, which are within DHFETE's remit, which would then be forwarded to Members. The Committee would meet on the afternoon of 8 February as normal.
2.4 Request to Finance and Personnel Committee
Noted.
At John Dallat's request, the Clerk had obtained advice form the Clerk of Committees, on whether the HFETE Committee could ask either the Minister for Finance and Personnel, or the Chairman of that Committee to attend a meeting at which Members could lobby for the need for additional resources for DHFETE. The advice received was that this could prove difficult in procedural terms, as the Committee could be seen as impinging on the remit of the Finance and Personnel Committee. As Mr Dallat was absent at this stage of the meeting, this would be discussed again at the next meeting.
2.5 BIFHE
Noted.
A letter had been sent to Professor Murphy (Director, BIFHE) thanking him for his invitation to visit the Institute and stating that the Committee may take up his offer in the future. This will be included in folders for next week's meeting.
2.6 Motions for Debate
Noted.
Members discussed the possible input of the Committee to forthcoming debates on Tuesday 16 January 2001, on the issues of skills shortages in the Health Service and Student Debt. Although the Business Committee deprioritise motions received from individual Members in areas covered by current Committee enquiries, the issue of skills shortages in the Health Service, was not especially applicable to the Committee's enquiry nor to DHFETE in general. It was not known at this stage whether Dr Farren, the Minister for DHFETE, would choose to respond to this motion.
Agreed
Briefing for both debates would be provided on Monday 15 January. Members could then decide whether to contribute to either debate.
3. Chairman's Business (Open Session)
3.1 Memorandum of Understanding
Noted.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Education between DHFETE, the Department of Education and the USA Department of Education was included in folders, along with the Chairman's reply to the Minister. This was an area to which the Committee may return in the future.
3.2 Letter from Chair, NICATS
Noted.
A letter from Professor Peter Roebuck, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (NICATS), asking to give oral evidence to the Committee was considered.
Agreed.
The Chairman's view was that the Committee needed a session on the system of accreditation as part of its enquiry. However there are a large number of bodies in this area and the Clerk would commission research on the remits of NICATS, QCA and NICCEA, before the Committee would decide on priorities.
4. Enquiry into Education and Training for Industry
4.1 Background Papers
Noted.
White Paper on Adult Education by the Republic of Ireland's Department of Education and Science and the Executive Summary of the Department of Trade and Industry's White Paper on Science and Innovation were included as background reading to the enquiry.
4.2 Policy Documents
Noted.
Chairman had written to the Minister, asking him to identify the main policy documents representing his Department's approach to the issues under consideration by the Committee. Tom Scott (T&EA) has offered to meet with the Committee towards the end of the enquiry to provide an update on relevant issues.
4.3 Written Submissions
Noted.
A Research Assistant, Dr Rosanne Cecil, had summarised all written submissions and highlighted the key themes. There was considerable correlation between the themes arising from the submissions and the priorities identified by the Committee.
Whilst the Committee was encouraged by the number and variety of bodies making written submissions to the enquiry, action was needed to attract further submissions from the private sector.
Agreed.
Clerk to draft a short article of approximately 1,000 words for inclusion in the TSB Economic Outlook and Business Review. The article should be based on recent press releases and invite further written submissions.
4.4 Focus of Enquiry
Members considered the Clerk's paper on progress on the enquiry and options on the way forward.
Agreed.
The main focus of the enquiry was to:
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examine the systems set up to identify the gaps between the supply of, and demand for, labour;
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identify areas where improvements could be made to these systems;
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gather evidence to identify gaps between demand and supply (especially re new sections of the labour market such as ICT) and to measure the extent of these gaps;
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identify themes including adult literacy and numeracy; ineffective short-term training programmes; and image problems (eg in construction, engineering, craft); enterprise culture; which impact on the adequacy of available manpower;
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decide on the best mechanisms to address weaknesses identified, with particular emphasis on:
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an examination of international training systems to decide whether these could be incorporated into the Northern Ireland training system or should lead to the system being restructured;
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shortfalls in provision (taking account of employers' views);
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bottlenecks in the provision of practical/technical skills for SMEs;
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the demands of the private sector; and
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any changes needed in the system eg to the organisation of Further Education colleges and the links between them.
4.5 Forward Work Programme
A draft Work Programme from January 2001 until the Easter Recess was considered.
Agreed.
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Given the Open University's success in attracting large numbers of paying students from beyond the large urban centres, and the lifelong learning aspect of the education provided, they should remain on the Programme.
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Both Mivan Construction and BDO Stoy Hayward (Chartered Accountants Group) should be invited to give oral evidence.
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A private sector firm from the Craigavon area should be invited on 22 February along with Craigavon District Council
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The Clerk was to investigate the possibility of rescheduling the proposed visit to Denmark, for the end of February.
4.6 Advisers to the Enquiry
Agreed.
Dr Steedman, from her work with CEDEFOP, would have specialist input into the planning of a European study visit and would accompany those Members going on the visit. The other 2 Advisers, David Armstrong and John Field, could be asked to draft short papers suggesting the way forward, when the Committee had identified with particular difficulties, or areas where specialist clarification/advice was needed, as they continued to gather evidence. The Advisers would have a particular role because of their informed views in areas such as skill shortages and lifelong learning. Further specifications for their input could be developed as and when Members became more aware of the issues arising from the written submissions and evidence sessions.
5. Subordinate Legislation
Noted.
SR 296/2000 Education Student Support (Amendment No 2) had been cleared on 18 December by executive decision. These Regulations were technical and non-contentious and picked up areas where clarification was needed in the main regulations. The Examiner of Statutory Rules report had raised no issues of concern.
The Committee would shortly consider two further Statutory Rules subject to the negative resolution procedure, 371/2000 and 379/2000. The Examiner of Statutory Rules will report in time for these to be examined by the Committee on 18 and 25 January respectively.
Generally, unless the Clerk has drawn to the attention of the Committee any problems with a Statutory Rule which the Committee would need to consider at an earlier juncture, the Committee stage should take place during the second week preceding the end of the statutory period, at the latest.
OFM/DFM and DHFETE had included the Committee in a consultation on proposals to speed up industrial tribunal procedures in equal pay cases. Both OFM/DFM and DHFETE have an interest.
Agreed.
The consultation period closes on 28 February and the Committee would return to consider this in early February. Assembly Research will be asked to provide briefing on the questionnaire.
6.1 Press Notice
Noted.
A Press Notice for today's meeting, which had been approved by the Chairman, was included for information. The Chairman would clear a Press Notice in advance of the next meeting on 18 January, subject to confirmation of witnesses.
6.2 Next meeting
Thursday, 18 January in Room 152 at 2:00pm.
Meeting closed at 4:10 pm.
Signed
Esmond Birnie
18 January 2001
ESMOND BIRNIE
Chairman
