Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY 2001

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
4. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
5. Future Work Programme
6. Any Other Business
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Sir John Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr D McClarty
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson

In Attendance:
Mr G Martin
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus

Apologies:
Mr G Kelly, Mr D O'Connor, Mr E ONeill

Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.10 pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals

(i) Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Social Security (Capital Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

Clarification was provided for Sir John Gorman that the ex-gratia payments referred to in the above Statutory Rule were not taxable.

(ii) The Committee considered the Department's proposals for a Statutory Rule regarding the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme and agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department asking them to reconsider their proposals. The Committee is still concerned that there is inequity in how those over and under 60 are treated and would consider preparing a motion of annulment to be laid before the Assembly.

4. Subordinate Legislation - Motions

The Social Development Committee considered Statutory Rule 2000 No.361 - The Child Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.362 - The Sharing of State Scheme Rights (Provision of Information and Valuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.360 - The Social Security (Contracting-out and Qualifying Earnings Factor and Revision of Relevant Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.368 - The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.365 - The Social Security (Joint Claims: Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.349 The Personal Pension Schemes (Payments by Employers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and Statutory Rule No.366 and Statutory Rule 2000 No.367 - The Social Security (Capital Limits and Earnings Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, and The Social Security (Enhanced Disability Premium Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 respectively.

The Committee agreed that they wished to consider the Statutory Rules in more depth and asked the Clerk to arrange for Departmental officials to be in attendance at the next meeting scheduled for 18 January.

5. Future Work Programme

(i) The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to the next meeting to provide a broad outline of the content of the proposed Housing Bill to assist the Committee to make an informed decision on suitable topics for inclusion in the work programme.

(ii) The Committee agreed to invite officials of the Belfast Regeneration Office to it's meeting scheduled for 1 February to discuss their Urban Regeneration proposals.

(iii) The Committee agreed to consider, at some future date, background issues relating to the 'travelling community' as a possible topic for inclusion in the work programme.

6. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to invite the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency to attend it's meeting scheduled for 25 January to make a presentation in relation to their recently published document entitled 'Operational Vision'.

The Committee agreed to invite the Centre Managers Sustainability Working Group to attend it's meeting scheduled for 25 January to make a presentation on the work of Women's Centres in the Greater Belfast area.

7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 18 January 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
January 2001

19 December 2000 / Menu / 18 January 2001