Committee 2006 Annual Report; Reports on Department & Entities: adoption

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
14 November 2006
COMMITTEE 2006 ANNUAL REPORT; REPORTS ON DEPARTMENT & ENTITIES: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Mr N Ngcobo (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Draft Committee Annual Report 2006 [available once adopted at Committee Reports]

SUMMARY
The Committee adopted its reports on the Annual Reports of the Department of Science and Technology, the South African Council for National and Scientific Professions, Tshumisano Trust, the Human Sciences Research Council and the Academy of Science of South Africa. The Committee’s 2006 Annual Report was also adopted, with amendments.

MINUTES
Draft Committee Annual report 2006
Mr A Ainslie (ANC) suggested the Committee look at improving the format and style of the Report. He alerted Members to the fact that some of the pages in the report were not put in the correct order and some were placed upside down. The problem must be corrected before the Report was distributing to the public.

The Chair interjected by saying that the Committee section team was yet to edit the Report and make changes, where appropriate. He noted that the Committee adopted the Report, with amendments.

He announced that the Minister of Science and Technology would not be able to attend the Committee’s end of year meeting as planned, as he would be visiting Switzerland. That meeting would thus be postponed till 17 January 2007, when Parliament opened for the new year.

The Chair Congratulated Ms Z Jansen, Committee Secretary, on the high quality of work she had produced. The Members agreed.

Reports on Annual Reports of Department and entities
The Committee adopted its Reports on the Annual Reports of the Department of Science and Technology, the South African Council for National and Scientific Professions, Tshumisano Trust, the Human Sciences Research Council and the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Concluding remarks
Mr J Blanche (DA) moved for adoption of the Committee minutes for 24 and 31 of October and 7 November 2006, which Mr S Nxumalo (ANC) seconded.

The Chair announced that the period from 17 January to 2 February 2007 would be reserved for training of Members, as a new operational system for Parliament had been introduced. The new systems required Committees to draft new programmes.

He wished well over the holiday season, and adjourned the meeting.