COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 1 JULY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stewart Kennedy (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.04am in public session.
Noted: The Committee noted the revised agenda.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Noted: Members noted that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson had declined a request from the University of Ulster to meet to discuss the urban regeneration consequences of the University’s planned relocation of the bulk of its activity from the Jordanstown campus to a new Belfast city centre campus in York Street.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the issue may be revisited pending the receipt of further information from the Committee for Employment and Learning.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 24th June 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 24th June 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Call for evidence by DWP: Timing of the Increase of State Pension Age
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should respond to the Department for Work and Pensions’ call for evidence (on the early increase of the State Pension Age to 66) indicating the Committee’s concern in respect of the affect of the proposed change on eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment. The Committee further agreed that its response should indicate that:
- consideration should be given to the impact of the proposed change for people living in deprived wards in Northern Ireland as identified by the Noble Indices. DWP should review how the change may disadvantage members of these communities who typically have shorter life spans; enjoy poorer health and have less access to employment opportunities than is the average in Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK;
- consideration should also be given to the impact of the economic downturn and recent welfare reforms which will further affect the availability of employment opportunities for older people; and
- notice periods for any change should be sufficient to allow people to make alternative employment or occupational pension arrangements.
4.2 Independent Review of Automatic Enrolment for Occupational Pensions
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarity on the review and to ascertain the timeline for its completion.
4.3 Committee Stage Stakeholder Consultations
Agreed: The Committee agreed the list of stakeholders to be consulted in respect of the Committee Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed the list of stakeholders to be consulted in respect of the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.
4.4 Budget 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister seeking a copy of the Department’s submissions to the Budget 2010 process when available. It was further agreed that additional meetings during the Summer Recess, to review the Departmental submissions, may be arranged at the Chairperson’s discretion.
4.5 Caravans Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note a number of additional submissions which had been received as part of the Committee Stage of the Caravans Bill.
4.6 Ministerial Correspondence on the Charities Act (NI) 2008
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s concerns about further delay in the implementation of the Charities Act (NI) 2008 and seeking information on the possible impact on voluntary charitable organisations. The Committee further agreed that the Chairperson would seek clarity in respect of the necessary amendments to the Act and would indicate that the Committee will, subject to review, facilitate the necessary legislative process.
Mr Hilditch joined the meeting at 10.21am.
4.7 Review of the Regional Infrastructure Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking a briefing on the review of the Regional Infrastructure Programme at the end of the public consultation process.
5. Caravans Bill – Oral Evidence from the British Holiday and Home Parks Association
The following representatives of the British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) joined the meeting at 10:23am:
Ms Ros Pritchard, Director General, BH&HPA;
Mr James Kennedy, Director, BH&HPA; and
Mr Terry Beard, Legal Adviser, British Holiday and Home Parks Association
The representatives provided oral evidence on the Caravans Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:04am.
6. Caravans Bill – Oral Evidence by the National Caravan Council Ltd
The following representatives of the National Caravan Council Ltd (NCC) joined the meeting at 11:04am:
Ms Alicia Dunne, Deputy Director General, NCC; and
Mr John Clement, Legal Adviser, NCC.
The representatives provided oral evidence on the Caravans Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their evidence.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11:17am.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:18am.
7. Caravans Bill – Oral Evidence from the Seahaven Park Homes Residents’ Committee
The following representatives of the Seahaven Park Homes Residents’ Committee joined the meeting at 11:18am:
Ms Valerie Boyd, Chairperson, Seahaven Park Homes Residents’ Committee; and
Ms Jean McCallan, Vice Chairperson, Seahaven Park Homes Residents’ Committee.
The representatives provided oral evidence on the Caravans Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their evidence.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification in respect of the Retail Price Index which is to be applied to the setting of pitch fees.
Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting at 11.30am.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:34am.
8. Proposed Statutory Rule: The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions and Housing Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Mrs Bradley left the meeting at 11.35am.
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:34am:
Dr Colin Sullivan, Director of Operations, Social Security Agency, DSD;
Ms Geraldine Brereton, Operations Transformation Assistant Director, Social Security Agency, DSD; and
Ms Janis Creane, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed statutory rule. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Rule to be made.
Agreed: The Committee further agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek an update on the GB review of the Work Capability Assessment and on the Department’s procurement of Medical Support Services.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee noted Departmental correspondence on the Commissioner for Older People Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would not make a submission to the Committee Stage of the Commissioner for Older People Bill.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Social Security Agency on the 2009/2010 Benefit Uptake Programme and a related press release from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department reiterating the Committee’s view that the Benefit Uptake Programme should also be targeted at cancer patients; householders facing repossession proceedings and tenants in rent arrears.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the CAB press release.
9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in response to the Committee’s letter on the Preventing Possession Initiative.
9.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in response to the issues raised by the Committee on the PwC research paper on Housing Association Reserves.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification on the 15% reduction in Housing Association Grant and further clarification on block leasing pilot schemes.
9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Construction Employers Federation requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss budget cuts; savings and efficiencies related to Budget 2010 and their implications for the construction industry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconsider this request when reviewing Budget 2010.
9.6 The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure requesting that correspondence in relation to the accessibility of local government owned art be forwarded to the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the correspondence should be forwarded to the Department.
9.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister forwarding the following:
- Responses from Barbara de Brun MEP and Jim Nicholson MEP on the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Commission’s Annual and Legislative Work Programme;
- A copy of a DFP briefing, considered by the Committee for Finance and Personnel on 2 June 2010, on the Europe 2020 Strategy and its links to the Executive’s priorities.
9.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on five action plans developed under the work programme of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People.
9.9 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure advising the Committee of the Department for Social Development’s possible involvement in providing funding for Special Olympics Ulster.
9.10 The Committee noted an invitation to the International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal’s 2 nd Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony in Westminster, London on 17 th and 18 th November 2010.
9.11 The Committee noted an invitation to a Chartered Institute of Housing event on tackling anti-social behaviour, in London on 5 August 2010.
9.12 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the Social Fund consultation.
9.13 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the retirement of the Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency.
9.14 The Committee noted Ministerial correspondence on the Northern Ireland Data Protection Review 2 nd Assessment Exercise.
9.15 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the Corporate Plan.
9.16 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on benefit continuity for people reaching State Pension Age.
Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12.05pm.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
11. Any Other Business
11.1 Recycling
The Committee noted that committee meeting packs may be recycled through the Committee Office.
11.2 New Committee Room
The Committee noted that Room 135 is expected to be taken out of commission as a Committee Meeting Room.
11.3 ETI Committee Review
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the ETI Committee to take the lead in its review of major fuel suppliers in Northern Ireland on the understanding that the review would not deal with substantive issues relating to fuel poverty. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should correspond with the Clerk of the ETI Committee requesting that the Committee be kept apprised of the findings of the review.
11.4 Delegated Powers Memorandum – Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Delegated Powers Memorandum of the Housing (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill to the Examiner of Statutory Rules for his consideration.
11.5 Committee Congratulations
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Clerk to the Committee) extending Members’ congratulations following the birth of her daughter.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 9 September 2010 at 10.00am. Members will be informed of the room number in due course.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.14pm.