MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY SECOND MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE AT 12:30PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2000.

PRESENT: Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr R Beggs
Mr J Byrne
Mrs J Carson
Mr J Dallat
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Kelly
Mrs M McWilliams
Mrs M Nelis

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Mr C Jones,
Mrs C McGrattan and Professor Osborne (Adviser)

 1. Apologies (Closed Session)

Joe Byrne and Joan Carson for early departure.

 

2. Draft Minutes of Meeting on Tuesday 12 September 2000

Agreed. Proposed - William Hay. Seconded - John Dallat.

 

3. Matters Arising

(a) New Deal

 Noted.

The Motion for debate would be dealt with today by the Business Committee.

The following information was requested by Members for the forthcoming debate:

  • Summary information on performance of secondary schools

  • The circumstances under which New Deal requires NVQ modules to be taken.

  • Targets for provision of New Deal places and actual performance against these the total number of New Deal Providers in Northern Ireland

  • The opportunities for international exchanges under New Deal

  • The qualifications which can be obtained under New Deal eg the evidence form the Bryson House representatives stated that HGV driving qualifications were not permitted under the terms of the programme

(b) Motion for Debate on Student Finance

Motion for debate would be considered and forwarded to the Business Office when the report was completed. The House would be asked to endorse the report, as this was an early opportunity for the Committee to shape future policy.

4. Chairman's Business

(a) Status of Meetings

Noted.

The meeting today and on Thursday 21 September would be in open session in line with the unanimous decision taken by the Committee last week.

Members noted that, yesterday, on Monday morning, today's meeting had been listed as closed on the enunciator system. The Clerk said those responsible for the enunciator had been formally advised before 3pm on Friday. She noted the Committee rota, giving details of all Committees, was only revised once a week (Thursdays).

NUS/USI

Noted.

Chairman and Deputy Chairman had met informally with representatives to reflect on both the NUS/USI's views and the views of the Committee on Student Finance.

Agreed.

Members need to be aware of press commentary on the major issues discussed by the Committee. Committee staff will provide a daily summary to Members of items included in the Department's press cuttings service. Members can then request specific items from the Committee office.

If Members wish to bring other items of interest to the attention of the Clerk, she would arrange for circulation to all Members.

5. Student Finance

The Committee met in open session to discuss their draft report on Student Finance, prepared by the Clerk following the meeting on 12 September.

Agreed.

Following today's meeting, the Clerk was asked to revise and reissue the draft report on Monday 25 September. This will be discussed and finalised at the meeting on Tuesday 26 September.

6. AOB

(a) Press Notice for Thursday 21 September 2000

Agreed.

(b) Next Meeting

Thursday 21 September at 2:00pm in open session.

Meeting closed at 5:10pm.

Esmond Birnie
26/9/2000

 

ESMOND BIRNIE
CHAIRMAN