COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Devlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
The meeting began in public session at 11.10 a.m.
1. Apologies
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 26 March 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Supporting People
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Minister’s response to Committee concerns associated with the Supporting People programme.
Mr Alban Maginness joined the meeting at 11.11am
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Ministerial response to the Supporting People organisations that had briefed the Committee (on 4 December 2008) and seek their response.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that it would welcome further briefings, as appropriate, from Supporting People organisations.
3.2. Strategic Business Review (SBR) of the Social Security Agency
The Committee noted Departmental correspondence in relation to the Strategic Business Review.
The Committee also noted that a Ministerial statement on the Strategic Business Review was expected to be made in plenary on 20 April 2009.
4.Welfare Reform Bill – Law Centre (NI) briefing
The following representatives of Law Centre (NI) joined the meeting at 11.17am:
Les Allamby – Director, Law Centre (NI);
Laure Niwa – Law Centre (NI).
The representatives briefed the Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill.
Mr Alban Maginness left the meeting at 11.46am
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.55am.
5. Social Security Advisory Committee - briefing
The following member of the Social Security Advisory Committee joined the meeting at 11.56am:
Sir Richard Tilt – Chairperson, Social Security Advisory Committee.
Sir Richard briefed the Committee on the role of the Social Security Advisory Committee, the Welfare Reform Bill and aspects of the Social Fund.
The Chairperson thanked Sir Richard for his briefing.
Sir Richard left the meeting at 12.17pm
6. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules relating to pensions and social security matters which have been laid in the Assembly:
6.1 2009/133 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to confirmatory resolution.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/133 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that the rule is confirmed by the Assembly.”
6.2 2009/135 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to confirmatory resolution.
Question put and agreed on a without prejudice basis:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/135 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that the rule is confirmed by the Assembly.”
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to clarify the amount of money an Incapacity Benefit claimant will be able to receive under the Financial Assistance Scheme, before it is taken into account for Incapacity Benefit purposes.
6.3 2009/139 The Occupational Pensions Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/139 The Occupational Pensions Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objections to the rule.”
6.4 2009/140 The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/140 The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the rule.”
6.5 2009/141 The Social Security (Steps to Work) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/141 The Social Security (Steps to Work) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objections to the rule.”
Mr Mickey Brady left the meeting at 12.29pm
7. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Departmental briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.30pm:
Michael Sands – Deputy Director, Housing Division, Department for Social Security;
Stephen Martin – Housing Division, Department for Social Development; and
Avril Hiles – Housing Division, Department for Social Development.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.49pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek Departmental clarification in respect of the aspects of the Bill referring to the eviction of a tenant following anti-social behaviour undertaken by others living in the tenancy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward additional questions to the Department that were not addressed during the briefing.
Agreed: The Committee directed the Clerk to seek advice in relation to the protocol surrounding the release of the final version of the Bill prior to introduction at the Assembly. Subject to this advice, the Committee agreed that information relating to the content of the Bill should be released to relevant organisations.
8. Correspondence
Ministerial:
8.1 The Committee noted Ministerial correspondence on the Fuel Poverty Taskforce recommendations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on the cost of the energy efficiency advertising campaign.
8.2 The Committee noted Ministerial correspondence in relation to the Andersonstown Gateway Feasibility Study Report.
8.3 The Committee noted Ministerial correspondence on staff payment issues in the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division.
Other Correspondence:
8.4 The Committee considered a memo from the Clerk of the Regional Development Committee in relation to the Utility Regulator’s consultation on its Social Action Plan 2009-2014.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the Committee for Enterprise, Trade & Investment’s comments on social tariffs as a means of combating fuel poverty, before responding on the Social Action Plan.
8.5 The Committee noted correspondence from John McCallister MLA advising of his Private Member’s Bill to enhance the rights of caravan.
Miscellaneous:
8.6 The Committee noted an e-mail from the Sustainable Development Commission providing a copy if its e-bulletin.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
10. Any other business
10.1 The Clerk informed the Committee that an Assembly intern is undertaking a review of MLA attitudes to climate change and has asked for a volunteer from the Social Development Committee to be interviewed. .
Agreed: It was agreed that Mickey Brady would be interviewed .
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 23 April 2009 at 11am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.56pm.