MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2000

1. Chairperson's Opening Remarks
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Subordinate Legislation
5. Departmental Budget
6. Health and Personal Social Services Bill
7. AOB
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Dr J Hendron
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Rev. R Coulter
Mrs C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies: Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin
Mrs V Artt Mrs K McFerran

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2.00 pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

The Chairman advised that the meeting of a delegation of Committee members with the Acute Hospital Review Group in the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick on Saturday, 14 October had been very useful. The Review Group Chairman, Dr Maurice Hayes, would welcome a further meeting with the Committee before the Review Group firms up its proposals for the way forward. The Clerk has issued members with a note of the meeting, which highlights the priority areas discussed.

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2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

Agreed: Members will, in future, forward to the Clerk correspondence that they receive which they deem appropriate for consideration by the Committee.

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4. Subordinate Legislation

1. Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals for Statutory Rules in respect of the following: The Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000; The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000; and The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

2. The Committee noted the proposal for a UK-wide Statutory Instrument that will amend the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997.

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5. Departmental Budget

1. Agreed: The Chairman will write to his counterpart on the Finance Committee to ascertain precisely how that Committee would propose to treat any report that this Committee may produce in relation to its views on the Budget allocations.

2. Agreed: In order to help inform the Committee's deliberations on the Budget allocations, the Clerk will request from the Department the following details:

• A detailed breakdown of the sum actually received for the financial year 2000/01 within each of the Departmental priority areas, based on the same format as the bids paper that the Minister had provided to the Committee in respect of the year 2001/02.

• A breakdown of the baseline figures for the last three years.

• The additional funds for Northern Ireland in respect of health issues that were allocated by Westminster following the Chancellor's announcement last year, and how these were defrayed.

• The allocation within the Block Grant for 2001/02 that has come as earmarked funding for the Chancellor's Children's Fund, and the sum that is to be allotted to the Department from this Fund.

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6. Health & Personal Social Services Bill: Initial Discussion

The Committee took the opportunity in advance of the Second Stage of the H&PSS Bill to informally discuss its provisions with a view to clarifying aspects upon which there was uncertainty. A number of questions arose during the deliberations to which the Clerk will seek answers from the Department in advance of the Committee's scheduled meeting date to begin the Committee Stage of the Bill, which is Wednesday, 8 November 2000. These are listed below in clause order.

PART I

Clause 2 Is there any intention to include the registration of "counsellors" under the Bill?

Clause 2 What is the proposed timescale for registering all social care workers?

Clause 2 (3) If a relative or family member is providing care and is unpaid, do they require to be registered? If a relative or family member is providing care and is paid, do they require to be registered? If an unpaid voluntary carer is providing care, do they require to be registered?

Clause 2 (4) Do other professionals - for example, doctors, teachers, probation officers whose work is required in connection with those providing relevant social work - have to be registered by the Social Care Council, or is registration in their own profession sufficient?

Clause 3 (3) What is the thinking behind closing a specified part of the register?

Clause 5 (a) and (b) How will the Council satisfy itself that applicants are of good character and physically and mentally fit?

Clauses 6 and 7 Will the Council consult on the rules about registration, removal from the register et cetera? Was there any consultation with staff unions before drafting sections covering removals from the register?

Clause 11 In GB and ROI the training of Social Workers is a three-year course. In NI the training is a two-year diploma course. Will this clause in the Bill change the training period or preclude social workers from NI obtaining work elsewhere?

Clause 18 What controls will there be on the Council on the level of the fees set?

Clauses 20 and 21 Do these sections include secure accommodation under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order? What happens to children aged 17 not covered by this Order?

Schedule I Why has representation been agreed at two thirds lay members and one third professionals, employers representatives et cetera? Who will be consulted with regard to the lay appointments?

PART II

Clause 30 (5) Why provide for the non-disclosure of medical advice?

Clause 39 What is the proposed date for the end of GP Fundholding? Will there be transitional arrangements, and if so what will they be?

PART III

Clause 42 What are the purpose and functions of Local Representative Committees?

Clause 47 (5) What type of investment do Trusts have which do not provide income?

Clause 51 Will this clause facilitate any more detailed information being supplied to the Department by the Registrar General of Births and Deaths?

Explanatory and Financial Memorandum

Has the Bill been cleared by the Equality Commission?

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7. AOB

1. Agreed: The Clerk will write to Down District Council to advise that it would be best to direct its concerns in relation to acute services at the Downe Hospital to the Acute Hospital Review Group, whose consultation process is now underway.

2. Agreed: As the Committee has a full work schedule and as a substantial number of detailed submissions have already been received in relation to its Inquiry into Residential Care and Secure Accommodation for Children, the Clerk will write to decline regretfully the request from Ards Borough Council for a meeting on this matter.

3. The lunch with a joint delegation from the Royal and City Hospitals in relation to the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) service is on Monday, 23 October 2000 at 12.30 pm in the Private Dining Room.

4. Members are invited to an informal meeting with Prof. Nairn Wilson, President of the General Dental Council, on Monday, 23 October 2000 in the Chairman's Room (211) at 3.00 pm.

5. There will not be a Committee meeting on Wednesday, 1 November 2000 because of the recess.

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8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 25 October 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 4.00 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

11 October 2000 / Menu / 25 October 2000