COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Council Chamber, Strabane Council Office
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant)
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 14.00 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Anna Lo, Jonathan Craig, David Hilditch, Thomas Burns and Carál Ní Chuilín
2. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson advised Members that the Motion on the Committee report on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance would be debated in the House on Monday 20 October 2008.
The Committee considered a press release in relation to the debate on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the press release would be issued.
The Committee noted a request from Citizens Advice Northern Ireland to use a photograph taken at the informal reception with stakeholders and the Committee.
The Committee considered a draft response to the DFP Budget Logistics Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the response be submitted to DFP.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 New Committee Member
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Billy Armstrong to his first meeting of the Committee and Members noted the signed declaration of interests for Mr Armstrong.
4.2 Review of Public Administration
The Committee noted arrangements for a single issue briefing on the Review of Public Administration.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Department to arrange a PowerPoint briefing for 27 November 2008.
5. Departmental briefing on the Welfare Reform Green Paper
Officials joined the meeting at 14.10 pm.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Welfare Reform Green Paper.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 14.47 pm.
Action: It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department to request a short extension to the consultation deadline.
6. Departmental briefing Local Housing Allowance, Quarterly Report.
Officials joined the meeting at 14.50 pm.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Quarterly Report on the Local Housing Allowance.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 15.01 pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would write to the Department to request that the next Quarterly Report on the Local Housing Allowance which is due in December 2008 is provided to the Committee.
7. Budget 2009-11 Strategic Stocktake
The Committee considered a briefing paper from the Department for Social Development.
Agreed: It was agreed that Departmental officials would brief the Committee on the Budget 2009-11 Strategic Stocktake at the Committee meeting of 23 October 2008.
8. Statutory Rule laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:
2008/410 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Questions put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/410The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
Mr Mickey Brady and Mr Fra McCann asked that their opposition to this motion be noted, indicating that they believed that the reduction in the back dating period for Pension Credit is a retrograde step.
9. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and have been laid in the Assembly.
2008/403 The Child Support Information Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
2008/404 The Child Support (Consequential Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
2008/406 The Social Security (Child Maintenance Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
2008/409 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Questions put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/403The Child Support Information Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/404 The Child Support (Consequential Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/406The Social Security (Child Maintenance Amendments)Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/409 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the Rule.”
10. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and have been laid in the Assembly.
2008/411 The Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
2008/412 The Employment and Support (Consequential Provisions No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
2008/413 The Employment and Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
2008/417 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.4) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Questions put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/411 The Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/412 The Employment and Support (Consequential Provisions No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/413 The Employment and Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/417 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.4) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
11. Correspondence
11.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Social Development in relation to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Report into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use.
11.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Social Development regarding European Social Fund – match funding applications.
11.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Social Development in relation to the Housing Rights Service briefing paper on the proposed Housing Bill.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Department for an update on the timescale of the proposed Housing Bill.
11.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the proposed Housing Bill.
11.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to Monthly Forecast Outturn Data.
11.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the legislative timescale for the reform of the private rented sector.
11.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulation ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
11.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment in relation to the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews).
11.9 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Personnel in relation to the Scrutiny Role of Committees.
11.10 The Committee noted correspondence from the Chairman of the Construction Industry Group.
11.11 The Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Executive of the Rose Energy Limited.
11.12 The Committee noted correspondence from Advice NI in relation to its Annual Meeting to be held on 14 November 2008.
11.13 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Social Development in relation to proposals to transfer Lone Parents from Income Support to Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Department to determine the next steps for these proposals.
11.14 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Social Development in relation to Neighbourhood Renewal.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Department to arrange a briefing by the Minister
12. Forward work programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme.
13. Any other business
The Chairperson advised Members that the Assembly Research and Library Service have produced a research paper on the regulation and control of gambling which is available on request from the Committee office.
The Chairperson advised Members that a request has been received from Save the Children in relation to the sponsorship of an event on Fuel Poverty in the Long Gallery.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee office staff would obtain the signatures of three Members of the Committee to sponsor the event.
The Committee considered a press release in relation to the Committee visit to Strabane.
Agreed: It was agreed that the press release would be issued.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 15.39 pm.