how can i get top marks in 8 & 16 mark committee questions?

• HOW CAN I GET TOP MARKS IN 8 & 16 MARK COMMITTEE QUESTIONS?

SOURCE copyrighted – On CCEA website Summer 2011

1. With reference to the Source and any other relevant material you have studied, explain TWO functions of Assembly Statutory Committees [8 Marks]

2. With reference to the Source and any other relevant material you have studied, explain why Assembly Statutory Committees have been considered a success [16 Marks]

1) It says with Reference to the Source – This means you have to refer to a section on the source in your answer – You lose marks for failure to include this

2) It also says other relevant material. This means you have to show your own knowledge through your explanation and examples

3) It says TWO functions – This means you should have TWO clear relevant points in 2 paragraphs

SOURCE copyrighted – On CCEA website Summer 2011


1) FUNCTION 1 – “To consider and advise on departmental budgets & annual plans”

2) FUNCTION 2 – “They can ask organisations and people to provide information” You should know that this is another phrase for ‘Calling for Persons and Papers’

FIRST TASK: Read the Source very carefully – Preferably with a highlighter. Are there TWO clear functions mentioned in the Source? In this case there are.

SOURCE Copyrighted – On CCEA website Summer 2011


WRITE UP : There are TWO functions. So you need TWO clear focused paragraphs• Each should use the relevant section of the Source

•Each Function should then be EXPLAINED clearly• EXAMPLES should be included here.



The first function clearly mentioned in the Source is the ability to “ Consider and advise on departmental budgets and annual plans.” There are Committees for each Executive department. Their role is to monitor and scrutinise the budget and plans of that department, holding it accountable. One example of this was the Regional Development Committee who recently investigated a huge overspend on the Coleraine to Derry railway improvement which had doubled from £20million to £40 million. The Minister was questioned over this unacceptable use of public money and asked to provide an explanation

Make your points very clear. I use Firstly and Secondly to clearly

introduce a point to an examiner

Refer to the Source at the start so you can be sure of the marks and ensure the focus of your answer. You can include phrases like :‘ According to the Source’

Explain – briefly

Include a relevant example

The second function clearly mentioned in the Source is the ability to “ Ask organisations and people to provide information.” This is generally known as Calling for Persons and Papers and gives the Committees the ability to question relevant stakeholders or organisations in terms of policies, legislation or inquiries.. One example of this was calling on organisations such as Disability action to be questioned by the Regional Development Committee when the Taxi bill was being legislated. As a result of this 72 amendments were later accepted to the bill by the NI Assembly making it much more inclusive and effective when implemented

Make your points very clear. I use Firstly and Secondly to clearly

introduce a point to an examiner

Refer to the Source at the start so you can be sure of the marks and ensure the focus of your answer. You can include phrases like :‘ According to the Source’

Explain – briefly

Include a relevant example

EXPLAIN :This question requires a number of clear, well explained points. • You have to refer to the Source – You can refer to the same sections as Q1.• You should have a number of paragraphs. • Each paragraph should be a clear relevant Point ; It should be well explained.• There should be a number of clear examples as supporting evidence throughout your answer .


2. With reference to the Source and any other relevant material you have studied, explain why Assembly Statutory Committees have been considered a success [16 Marks]

There are a number of reasons why the Assembly Statutory committees have been considered a success. Statutory committees are hugely important for the NI Assembly to be effective. The prime function of the Statutory committees is to shadow the ’11 statutory committees’ mentioned in the Source. They perform a number of roles in this regard. They can firstly scrutinise and hold to account the Minister in the Department on the various public bodies connected with it. As it says in the source, it has the power to consider and advise on budgets and annual plans’ This element of scrutiny is highly useful. For example the Regional Development Committee recently highlighted a huge overspend on improvements to the Coleraine to Derry railway line. It had doubled from £20 million to £40 million. The committee took action, questioning the Minister Danny Kennedy and holding him account for this. This was widely reported in the media and put pressure on the Minister to account for this use of public money.

Addresses question straight away KEY POINT

SOURCE USE EXAMPLE

The Committees also have played a successful role in ensuring legislation is effective. They have the power to call for persons and papers. As it says in the source this allows them the ability to ‘ask for organisations and people to provide information’ Relevant stakeholders can be called to make legislation effective and successful. An example of this was the Regional Development committee calling for organisations such as Disability Action to help mould the Taxi Bill. This helped to refine the bill and make it more effective in its inclusivity to disabilities. In the end 72 amendments were successfully added to this bill. The Committees are also highly representative. They have held committee meetings in various locations around Northern Ireland. The agriculture committee met at the Ballymena Agricultural fair for example. The Regional Development committee went on a fact finding mission to Rathlin island. As a result of this local views were listened too and a new ferry service and local amenities were set up. This helped to boost tourism to the islands economy. This compares highly favourably to Direct rule when local representation was almost non existent

The Committees were set up to encourage cooperation between the rival groups, nationalist and unionist within the Assembly. Their make up is decided by d’hondt which helps the committees membership to mirror the Assembly . The Chair of each committee is usually of a different party to the Minister to make it more accountable. Decisions are also taken on the basis of a simple majority. This has led to more inclusive debate and compromise. Committees have worked very well together on issues such as introducing the Plastic bag tax successfully or the Sunbed bill. The Committee for Culture Sports and Leisure was effective in attracting key sporting and cultural events such as the Tall Ships and World Police and Fire games as well as encouraging the local creative industries by helping attract series like Game of Thrones with attractive incentives.

There are also excellent examples of joined up scrutiny with an effective recent Joint committee between the Health and Agriculture committees over the issue of Horse meat in the food industry. This was also true of a Joint committee into the effects of the credit crunch which highlighted serious business concerns over the inability to access credit during the recent recession.

In effect the Committees are successful in their ability to hold the Executive to account. The Executive is made up of 5 parties and contains 100 out of the 108 MLA’s This has left the job of opposition to the Committees. Although this has been criticised for its obvious drawbacks it has been effective in holding Ministers and departments to account for their actions.

The Committees have carried out a number of important inquiries into serious issues. A deadly outbreak of Pseudomonas in Belfast hospitals recently had killed 4 babies and was investigated by the health committee. The Minister at the time Edwin Poots was questioned about the outbreak and admitted that there had been lapses and that the outbreak had also caused several other casualties prior to the deaths. The outbreak was sourced to a section of pipes and a report produced to prevent a re-occurrence in the future. (You could include the NI Water Frozen pipes issue here too or Suicide awareness)

how can i get top marks in 8 & 16 mark committee questions?

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