Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
End of session report 2009/2010

The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is a Statutory Departmental Committee established in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Belfast Agreement, section 29 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and under Standing Order 48.

The Committee has power to:

• Consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
• Consider relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of primary legislation;
• Call for persons and papers;
• Initiate inquires and make reports; and
• Consider and advise on any matters brought to the Committee by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

The Committee has 11 members including a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and a quorum of 5.

With effect from 23 September 2009 Mrs Iris Robinson replaced Mr Thomas Buchanan.
With effect from 12 January 2010 Mrs Iris Robinson resigned as an MLA.
With effect from 15 January 2010 Mrs Carmel Hanna resigned as an MLA.
With effect from 26 January 2010 Mr Conall McDevitt filled the vacancy following the resignation of Mrs Carmel Hanna.

With effect from 1 February 2010 Mr Thomas Buchanan filled the vacancy following the resignation of Mrs Iris Robinson.
With effect from Monday 24 May 2010 Mr Tommy Gallagher replaced Mr Conall McDevitt.
With effect from Monday 24 May 2010 Mrs Mary Bradley replaced Mrs Dolores Kelly.

Between September 2009 and August 2010 the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety held 35 meetings and 1 concurrent meeting with the Committee for Education to hear a briefing from the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health. Four of these meetings were held outside Parliament Buildings. These were:

• A meeting at the Food Standards Agency as part of a visit to the Agency on 22 October 2009.
• A meeting at the Northern Ireland Hospice followed by a tour of the Hospice on 3 December 2009.
• A meeting at the Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick followed by a tour of the new Downe Hospital on 20 May 2010.
• A meeting at the Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology Building, Queens University Belfast following a tour of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital on 17 June 2010.

Members of the Committee with representatives of Queens University Belfast during a visit to the Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology at Belfast City Hospital.

A Committee fact finding visit to study best practice in relation to safeguarding in Bradford & Bolton on 15 April 2010 was cancelled because of travel restrictions due to the eruption of the Ejafjallajökull volcano in Iceland.

During seven of the Committee’s meetings the Committee went into closed session for a period of time, for example to discuss potential recommendations to be contained in an inquiry report. One meeting (25 May 2010) was held completely in closed session to discuss budget issues with the Minister. This was at the request of the Minister because the figures being discussed had not yet been made public.

Primary Legislation

The Committee commenced the Committee stages of:

• The Sunbeds Bill NIA 18/09 - The Committee received written 30 submissions from interested groups and took formal evidence from 4 organisations. The Department has indicated that it intends to make a number of amendments to the Bill based on evidence brought to its attention by the Committee.
• The Safeguarding Board Bill NIA 25/09 – before the Bill was introduced the Committee consulted with groups working in Child Protection, receiving 17 written submissions and taking formal evidence from 9 groups. Further evidence as part of the formal Committee stage will be taken in autumn 2010.

The Committee stage of both Bills will be completed by the end of 2010.

Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered and approved 39 statutory rules. The Committee raised concerns about enforcement of the Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Department for Health agreed to amend the legislation to delegate powers directly to Councils to enforce action with regard to fire safety matters in premises that they licence.

Inquiries

The Report on the Committee Inquiry into Obesity was debated and approved by the Assembly on 16 November 2009. The Committee took evidence from officials on the Department’s response to the report on 4 February 2010. The report contained 24 recommendations on both health and education aspects of obesity and weight management. Twenty two of these recommendations were accepted by the relevant Departments.

Budget Scrutiny

The Committee took evidence on budget issues from the Minister (28 January 2010, 25 May 2010, 3 June 2010), Departmental officials (15 October 2009, 27 May 2010, Trade Union Representatives (8 October 2009, 28 January 2010), all 5 Health & Social Care Trusts (15 October 2009, 22 October 2009, 5 November 2009), and the Health & Social Care Board/ Public Health Agency (3 June 2010).

Policy Scrutiny

The Committee took evidence from departmental officials on its handling of the Swine Flu pandemic (10 September 2009, 22 October 2009, 3 December 2009)

The Committee took evidence from Dominic Bradley MLA (17 September 2009) and departmental officials (1 October 2009) on a proposed private members bill on autism.

The Committee took evidence on the RQIA report on hygiene and infection control in the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (26 November 2009).

The Committee took evidence on the RQIA report on intrapartum care in Northern Ireland (13 May 2010).

Engagement - Informal meetings/events

The Committee has sought to find ways to allow more groups, who would otherwise not get the opportunity to meet the Committee, to put forward their views. It therefore held 15 informal lunchtime meetings, which took place before the formal Committee meeting.

The Committee has also held 3 functions in the Long Gallery for health related groups. At these a total of 33 groups were able to meet members of the Committee and speak to them about issues and concerns. A further event is planned for 30 th November 2010.

The Committee met informally with the Dáil Committee for Health & Children on 11 th January 2010.

Members of the Committee with representatives of Mindwise

Committee motions

The Committee put forward the following motions which were debated in the Assembly:

• RQIA report on hospital hygiene.
• Request for the Minister to seek to secure the agreement of the Secretary of State to initiate a time bound public inquiry into the multi agency aspects of the McElhill / McGovern tragedy in Omagh.

Key priorities for the next session:

• Sunbeds Bill
• Safeguarding Board Bill
• Departmental Budget

Expenditure for the period 1 September 2009 – 31 August 2010