COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Twenty First Meeting Tuesday, 19 September 2000 Room 144, Parliament Buildings

The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.00 pm. The meeting was held in public session.

Mr Leslie attended from 2.28 pm. Mr Hussey attended from 2.40 pm.

1. Minutes of Proceedings

Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 12 September 2000.

2. Matters arising:

2.1 SR2000 - £69M Overstatement of Northern Ireland Departmental Expenditure Limits

The Committee deliberated on draft letters to the Minister of Finance and Personnel and HM Treasury.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the issue of the letters.

2.2 Legislative Workload

The Committee deliberated on the draft letter to the Chairman of the Business Committee.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the issue of the letter.

3. Committee Stage - Ground Rents Bill (NIA Bill 6/99) (cont'd)

The Committee continued its clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Ground Rents Bill. Ms Judena Goldring and Mr Neil Lambe, Office of Law Reform appeared before the Committee and were questioned on the Bill. The Office of Law Reform was supported by Mr Arthur Moir, Chief Executive and Mr John Gibson, Lands Register of Northern Ireland. The Committee deliberated on the Long and Short Title and Clauses 3 to 11.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider the Long and Short Title at the next meeting when the Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on amendment of the title.

The Committee agreed that Clause 3, subsections (1) to (6) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed to consider subsections (7) and (8) of Clause 3 at the next meeting. The Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on a proposed change to the Bill's definition of a flat, as provided by the Law Society of Northern Ireland in its letter of 15 September.

The Committee agreed that Clause 4, subsections (1) to (6) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 5, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill.

Mr Maskey left the meeting at 2.45 pm and returned at 3.40 pm.   Mr Hussey left the meeting at 3.40 pm.   The Chairman adjourned the meeting from 3.40 pm to 3.50 pm.

The Committee agreed to re-consider Clause 6 at the next meeting. The Office of Law Reform would report to the Committee on whether the aims of the clause could be achieved by means of a simpler process.

The Committee agreed that Clause 7, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 8, subsections (1) to (3) should stand part of the Bill, subject to a recommendation that a motion be made to amend subsection (1) (b) as follows:

"page 6, line 15, after ( '(c.154)' ) insert ( '(' )"

The Committee agreed that Clause 9, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 10, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

The Committee agreed that Clause 11, subsections (1) to (2) should stand part of the Bill.

Mr Leslie left the meeting at 4.15 pm.

The Chairman adjourned scrutiny of the Bill at 4.15 pm.

Resolved: The Committee agreed to seek an extension of the Committee Stage of the Ground Rents Bill to 27 November 2000.

4. Consider any Statutory Rules

No Statutory Rules were tabled.

5. Correspondence

The following correspondence was tabled: letter of 15 September from Law Society on Ground Rents Bill; DFP press notice of 18 September on revaluation for non-domestic properties in Northern Ireland; two letters of 15 September from Minister of Finance and Personnel on Repeal of Trading Stamps Act (NI) 1965 and on his Response to the Committee Report 'Inquiry into EU Structural Funds - The Peace II Programme', and one of 18 September on Financial Procedures: Estimates and Appropriation respectively.

6. Any other business:

6.1 Repeal of Trading Stamps Act (NI) 1965 Consultation Paper

Resolved: The Committee agreed to the Minister of Finance and Personnel's intention to issue a consultation paper on the repeal of the Act and to consider the paper when the consultation exercise was completed.

6.2 Report on Inquiry into EU Structural Funds Peace II Programme

Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider the Minister of Finance and Personnel's response to the Report at a later date.

6.3 Rates rebate and cryptosporidiosis outbreak

The Committee deliberated on the issue of compensation to ratepayers that was raised in the Assembly debate of 11 September on the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis.

Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister of Finance and Personnel to seek information on the matter.

6.4 Committee Staffing

The Committee deliberated on the shortage of Committee staff and its adverse effect on Committee business.

Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman should raise the matter with the appropriate authorities.

7. Date of next meeting

Resolved: The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, 26 September at 2.00 pm when the main item of business would be the Ground Rents Bill.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.40 pm.

FRANCIE MOLLOY   Chairman