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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN CSA BOARD ROOM GREAT NORTHERN TOWER,
GREAT VICTORIA STREET, BELFAST AT 2.00PM ON
THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2002.

Present:
 Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Mr G Kelly (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr E ONeill
Mr J Tierney
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Mr S Wilson

Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew
Sir J Gorman
Mr T Hamilton

In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Miss K Kelly
Miss F Douglas
Miss A Montgomery

Private Session

Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.07 p.m.

The Chairman advised the Members Mr G Kelly had assumed the role of Deputy Chairperson from 8 April 2002, Ms M Gildernew would remain a Member of the Committee.

  1. Visit to the Child Support Agency
    2.

    The Committee noted the Agenda for the presentation and tour of the Child Support Agency which was scheduled to following the meeting.

  2. Minutes of the meeting held on 21ST March.
    3.

    The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

  3. Matters Arising.
    4.

    Parity - Response to House of Lords Inquiry

    The Committee agreed that this item would be discussed at the Committee meeting scheduled for 18 April.

    Committee for Finance and Personal Inquiry into European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives - Draft Response

    The Committee agreed the terms of the draft response tabled.

  4. Subordinate Legislation

    5. Proposal

    The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    The Clerk was asked to request the Department to provide further information on this Proposal.

    Motions

    The Committee passed the following Motions subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule's Report:

    "The Social Development Committee has considered the following Statutory Rules:

    SR 2002 No. 98 - The Guaranteed minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 106 - The Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern

    Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 105 - The Social Fund (Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents Amendment)

    Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 107 - The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings

    Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002

    SR 2002 No. 108 - The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 109 - The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Contracting-Out)

    (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 89 - The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland)

    2002.

    SR 2002 No. 114 - The Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) (Amendment) Regulations

    (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 128 - The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland)

    2002.

    SR 2002 No. 127 - The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Bankruptcy) Regulations

    (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 121 - The Child Support (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) (Amendment)

    Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    And has no objection to the Rules."

    Note: In respect of SR 2002 No 105 the Clerk was asked to request additional information.

    Mr S Wilson joined the meeting at 2.21 p.m.
  5. Committee Business Priorities Paper.
    6.

    The Chairman advised the Members of the main issues facing the Committee. The areas of Budgets, Legislation, Inquiries and matters of Policy were discussed.

    It was agreed that the Department be requested to provide copies of the submissions they receive regarding their consultation on the Housing Bill.

    The Clerk was asked to write accordingly.

    The Clerk was asked to explore options for pursuing Fuel Poverty matters.

    Members agreed in principal, that additional weekly Committee meetings might be scheduled for Monday evenings.

  6. Forward Plan of Business.
    7.

The Committee noted the Forward Plan of Business.

The Chairman advised the Committee the debate on Homelessness Inquiry would take place on 7 May at the earliest. Members agreed 3 hours should be allocated for the debate.

  1. Government Office Accommodation Review - Interim Report.
    2.

    The Committee discussed the Interim Report associated Research Paper.

    The Clerk was asked to develop the Draft for further consideration.

    Mr G Kelly left the meeting at 2.59 p.m.
  2. Children (Leaving Care) Bill.
    3.

    The Committee agreed that recent correspondence from the Chairman to the Ministers and Chairs of DE, DEL and DHSS&PS should again be brought to the attention of the Chair of the DHSS&PS Committee.

  3. Revised DSD New Targeting Social Need (New TSN) Action Plan April 2001 - March 2003.
    4.

    The Committee discussed the revised TSN Action Plan 2001 noting a lack of reference to Homelessness.

    Members agreed the Chairman should write to the Minister expressing the Committee's disappointment concerning this omission.

  4. Social Security Bill
    5.

    The Committee noted the latest draft of the Social Security Bill.

  5. Any Other Business.
    6.

Council for the Homeless (NI) & Housing Rights Service Housing Bill Seminar

The Committee agreed the Chairman should speak on the role of the Social Development Committee in relation to the Housing Bill at the Housing Bill Seminar scheduled for Wednesday 17 April.

Landlords' Association

The Chairman advised the Committee that he and the Clerk had met representatives from the Landlords' Association on Tuesday 9 April.

The Members agreed the Chairman write to the Chief Executive of the NIHE along the lines of the draft tabled.

Examination of Drinking in Public Bye-Laws

Members noted the letter and associated Press Release from the Minister, dated 8 April, announcing an intention to commence an examination of Northern Ireland's existing drinking in public bye-laws.

Departmental Press Releases

The Committee noted various Departmental Press Releases.

Pension Credit Consultation

The Committee agreed that the Paper concerning Pension Credit Consultation, prepared by Research and Library Services for the Committee in February 2001, be published on the Northern Ireland Assembly Intranet.

Woman's Information Group

The Chairman referred the Committee to a letter from the Women's Information Group to Mr Tierney dated 7 March.

Following discussions the Clerk was asked to write to the Women's Information Group requesting further information.

Department of Education

Members noted the letter from the Minister of Education, dated 29 March, concerning the Committee's Inquiry into Housing.

Committee Visit to the CSA Press Release

Members agreed the terms of the Committee's Press Release for the visit to the CSA.

12. Child Support Reforms: Delay in Implementation.

The Committee noted the letter from the Minister, dated 21 March, advising there will be a delay in the implementation of the Child Support Reforms.

13. Date of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 18 April in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

14. Presentation on Child Support Reforms

Mr Gerry Keenan, Chief Executive Child Support Agency, Mary Quinn, Business Development Manager, John Canavan, Operations Director and Mervyn Adair Senior Operations Manager presented Child Support Reforms to the Committee.

The presentation covered:

Following the presentation Members toured the Child Support Agency facilities taking the opportunity to speak to managers and staff dealing with Child Support inquiries.

Mr F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
APRIL 2002

21 March 2002 / Menu / 18 April 2002