17. Priorities for the Programme for Government have been set. Which aspects do the Department intend to give priority to? Can you give a commitment that the Department will give us this list?

1. The Department would be prepared to come back to the Committee in writing with priorities regarding the budget allocation. It should be noted that both the budget and the Programme for Government were looked at in tandem and that Public Service Agreements, soon to be developed, will put flesh on the bones.

17. Are you saying that the commitments to particular issues in the Programme for Government are not going to slip?

1. All action points will be acted upon but how much they are acted upon will depend on the budget allocation. Until all funding is agreed I cannot say how far we can go on each action point.

17. Does this mean that the Programme for Government is an aspirational document?

1. No. Priorities and actions are contained in the Programme for Government. Hard targets of dates, deadlines and deliverabilities will be known after the creation of Public Service Agreements. It should be understood that this is not a short-term programme, we are looking at a 7-10 year programme.

17. Is there a relationship between the Programme for Government and budget allocations? Where is the money coming from to deal with specifics?

1. The aim is to make progress on all issues not necessarily to complete all issues.

17. The aspirations in the Programme for Government are not reflected in the budget allocation. Is that not right? What about the proposed Housing Executive rent increase of GDP + 2%? Will the total amount in the DSD budget be all you can get?

1. That is a matter for Ministers and then ultimately the Assembly.

17. Can the Assembly move money between Departments?

1. That is a matter for the Assembly to debate.

17. Consultation should be more than aspirational - real consultation costs money. The real problem in NI is the absence of enough social housing. Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives power in GB to order the big developers to make land available for social development. Should these aspirations in the Programme for Government not be firmed up to timescale?

1. There is a commitment to social housing and it is not just aspirational.

17. Why is there not a reference to rural unfitness in the Programme for Government?
    What does the statement at section 3.6 on page 35 mean? How is the statement at section 7.6 on page 66 to be achieved?

1. Rural unfitness, for example, is running at 17% in Fermanagh but it is planned to start surveys in the next few months and it is expected that this percentage will drop. The issue of state of the art play facilities in collaboration with the District Councils and the community and voluntary sector is not a matter for DSD. It is the responsibility of DHSSPS and DE. With regards to the target of cutting social security fraud by 5%, the Department has already in place a taskforce which, for example, is looking at data matching across the benefit system, benefit sanctions, prosecution and working with other Agencies both in GB and the ROI. Targeting social security fraud has always been, and always will be, a high priority of the Social Security Agency.

17. Is there a commitment to funding the plans in the Programme for Government outlined in sections 2.4.1 and 2.4.2?

1. The Department issued a consultation paper earlier in the year regarding the gap funding in this sector and we are still considering the responses. European programmes has been a major source of support in this area but the next tranche of funding is not due to come on stream until the middle of 2001. £2M has been identified to bridge the gap however the bid was £11M. We have therefore made significant contributions to priority groups but we have not been able to meet all requests.

17. Figures indicate that unclaimed Social Security benefits amount to £7M per annum and that this figure is likely to be nearer £14M when spin off entitlement is taken into account. In these circumstances why is less being spent on Advice Services, in real terms, this year than last?

1. It is intended to link baseline funding in with European Funding and to provide 10 one-stop shops to support the regional network of Advice Services.

17. Do you hope to subsidise the reduction in budget to the Citizen Advice Bureaux with European money?

1. Yes.

17. Community regeneration section 2.4.2 on pages 24 and pages 25. What is the connection between housing policy and the regeneration strategy?

1. An assurance can be given that the regeneration strategy will knit together within the Department. There is a link forming between a number of Agencies and inner departmental divisions.

17. Still unhappy about the Committee being asked to endorse the Programme of Government without knowing what we are specifically endorsing. What can be done to make next years Programme less aspirational, more specific and measurable?

1. It is accepted that the document could be more user-friendly but this Department only made an input to the document, others wrote it.

17. Could you provide the Committee with what you presented in more detail?

1. I do not think that will be possible. We are in a process. When the budget is finalised the implications for targets that you seek will be apparent. In the consolidated Budget document there will be targets.

17. Is it not the case that some statements have no targets so that the Department is not accountable for not delivering?

1. No, if we are in front of the Committee in January, following the publication of the consolidated budget document, I am confident that the Committee would not be able to make that allegation.

17. If funds are not available will certain issues be taken out of the consolidated budget document?

1. This document was not intended to set out all targets, it was only intended to issue selective targets. Some numbers and dates still to be firmed up.

17. The Committee cannot agree to the Programme for Government document until it is fleshed out. For example the upgrade of Housing Executive kitchen and bathrooms. The Committee does not know whether to agree due to lack of specifics.

1. It is not about the Committee endorsing the document, it is about asking the Committee for its thoughts on what is missing. The particular issue concerning kitchens and bathrooms is about whether or not upgrading kitchens and bathrooms is a good thing.

17. This Committee will not agree until we get specifics. Will the concerns of the Committee, for example, on rural unfitness be included?

1. That is the purpose of this meeting and also for the Committees' thoughts on priorities and the Housing Executive rent increase.
   

17. The Committee would want to see the Department's priorities before making any comment. Rent increases have been discussed by the Committee but no conclusions have yet been drawn.

Social Development Minutes 9 November 2000