Page 3089 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992
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MS ELLIS (9.03): Madam Speaker, I would like to speak specifically to my minority report, included as part of the 1992 Estimates Committee report. I have included in my report certain factual errors which appear in the Estimates Committee report and which Ms Szuty has referred to before. These are there for examination and I do not wish to debate them at this time.
During the 10 days of Estimates Committee public hearings, I attended most sessions and participated in a constructive and, I thought, very useful way. I strongly believe that the Estimates Committee serves a very important and, in fact, essential role. It is therefore vital that members of the committee attend and contribute to the best of their ability and availability. As we all know, the work of our committee system is an invaluable adjunct to the Assembly, and participation by all committee members should be encouraged for the sake of the important work undertaken by the committees. All non-executive members of the Assembly can nominate to participate in the Estimates Committee, regardless of whether they are government, opposition or independent members. I believe that we all have a contribution to make and we all deserve the opportunity to contribute. Giving members the opportunity to contribute has, in my experience, always been an important part of a committee's organisation and participation.
Following the estimates public hearings, there was a series of private meetings, including those held on 30 October, 2 November and 5 November. During these meetings the committee held detailed discussions and made deliberate decisions on its report. During the 30 October meeting many changes were initiated, and it was agreed that the draft report would be further considered at the next meeting - on 2 November. At that meeting on 2 November, chapter 1 of the draft report was agreed to by the committee, including me. The committee discussed chapters 2 to 4 and agreed to further consider these chapters at the next meeting, at 8.30 am on Thursday, 5 November. Some sections at that stage were to be partially redrafted and there was to be much to consider on 5 November. I was also aware at this time that it was quite likely that a further meeting might be held on Friday, 6 November.
The meeting on 5 November was scheduled, unfortunately, at a most inconvenient time for me. Due to public hearings of the Standing Committee on Social Policy, which had been planned months in advance, I could attend the estimates meeting for a few minutes only.
Mr Cornwell: Half an hour.
MS ELLIS: For a few minutes only I was there. As presiding member of the Social Policy Committee, my commitment to the public hearings and the members of the public who were contributing to those hearings had to outprioritise the Estimates Committee meeting, which had been scheduled three days earlier. This made it impossible for me to contribute in any way to that meeting. As other members of the Social Policy Standing Committee were involved in the Estimates Committee meeting, the Social Policy Committee public hearings scheduled for 9.00 am did not have a quorum for some time and therefore started late.
I suggested the following day - not on the evening of Wednesday, 4 November, as mentioned by Ms Szuty - that an additional meeting should be held on Friday, 6 November. I believe that it was my responsibility to contribute to that final report, but the committee not only had considered a wide range of changes to the
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