1. Chairman's Opening Remarks
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Health and Personal Social Services Bill (NIA Bill 3/00)
Committee Stage
6. Draft Report into Residential and Secure Accomodation for Children in Northern Ireland
7. AOB
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies: Rev. R Coulter
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Mrs I Robinson

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

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2.03 pm.

1. The Chairman referred to the meeting that he and some members had on Monday, 13 November with a delegation from the Northern Ireland Consultants and Specialists Committee. The key point arising from the discussion was the need for clear lines of demarcation between the respective medical and surgical provisions of area and local hospitals under any future arrangements. The consultants were firmly of the opinion that acute medical and surgical services should not be provided by local hospitals, as these would not have the full necessary range of experienced surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and radiologists.

2. The Chairman also met with representatives of the Registered Homes Confederation on Tuesday, 14 November. The representatives pointed out that, as well as the practical benefits of freeing up much needed beds within the hospital system, substantial savings could be made by transferring hospital in-patients to private residential care/nursing homes where appropriate.

Agreed: The Clerk will arrange for the Directors of the four HSS Boards to brief the Committee on this issue and related matters.

3. As a follow-up to the Chairman's recent media comments on the current crisis within health and social services, particularly in relation to hospital pressures, the Clerk had requested an up-to-date position from the Department. Members were circulated with copies of the Department's reply, which provided a snapshot of the position as of Monday, 13 November and gave brief details of what is being done to address the situation. The Committee noted from the figures provided the unacceptable number of "trolley waits" in the Eastern and Southern HSS Board areas.

4. Members were advised that the next Statutory Committees Chairpersons' Liaison meeting will take place on 29 November. A number of matters raised by the Committee have already been tabled for discussion, and members can take up any further points through the Chairman.

5. The Committee met on Tuesday, 14 November to begin its deliberations on its draft report on the Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland. The Chairman advised that, time permitting, the Report would be considered further at today's meeting.

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The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

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1. The Clerk has arranged for Senior Departmental Officials to make a presentation on the financial planning and monitoring processes applied in overseeing health and social services on Wednesday, 29 November.

2. The Committee will continue its formal consideration of the Health and Personal Social Services Bill on Wednesday, 22 November, and will aim to resolve any outstanding matters at its meeting on Wednesday, 6 December.

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Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined in respect of the following Statutory Rule: Feeding Stuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

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As the Clauses to be considered fell within the separate remits of each of three teams of Departmental Officials, the Chairman advised members that the corresponding groups of Clauses would be examined in turn in order to facilitate the Committee's consideration of the Bill.

Part III - Clauses 39, 40,41,42, 49 and Schedule 2, and 55 and Schedule 3

Departmental Officials: Mr Derek Baker, Director of Primary Care
Ms Sheila Barfoot
Mr Basil Gibson
Ms Beatrice Major

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2.22 pm. The Committee considered each Clause and accompanying Schedules in turn, following a background briefing from Mr Baker. The entire proceedings are recorded in verbatim transcripts of evidence.

The Committee deliberated on the Health and Personal Social Services Bill.

Resolved:

That Clauses 39, 40, 41, 42 and 49 and Schedule 2, and Clause 55 and Schedule 3 stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 2.47 pm.

Part III - Clause 51

Dept Finance and Personnel Officials: Mr George King
(General Register Office) Mr Stanley Campbell

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2.48 pm. After a background briefing from Mr King, the Committee considered Clause 51. The discussions are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence.

That Clause 51 stands part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 2.57 pm.

Part III - Clauses 53, 56 and Schedule 4

Departmental Officials: Mr David Bingham
Mr Herbie Vance
Mr Chris Wallace

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2.58 pm. The Committee considered the Clauses and Schedule in turn following a background briefing from Mr Bingham.

Resolved:

That Clauses 53 and 56, and Schedule 4, stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 3.05 pm.

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The Committee continued its deliberations on the draft report. In view of the time pressures involved in finalising the Report for a provisional debate in the Assembly on 12 December, an additional meeting is scheduled for 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 21 November.

Mr Kelly left the meeting at 4.35 pm.

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Agreed:

1. The Clerk will invite Dr Miriam McCarthy, Chairperson of the Steering Group behind the report 'Myths & Reality' on teenage pregnancy and parenthood, to give a presentation to the Committee.

2. The Clerk advised members of an invitation to the Committee from NICARE (International Business Unit of the N.I. HPSS) to a lunchtime event in the Long Gallery on Tuesday, 21 November, where the Minister will give the keynote address.

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The Committee will meet next at 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 21 November 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

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The meeting ended at 4.28pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
November 2000

14 November 2000 / Menu