MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2000

Present:
Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Mr P Berry
Rev R Coulter
Ms C Hanna
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies:
Ms P Armitage
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs K McFerran (Administrative Support)

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:04 pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

1. On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked the staff for their hard work in producing the Report on the Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland.

2. The Chairman extended the Committee's best wishes to staff member Mrs Artt for a speedy recovery from her recent illness.

3. Following his recent meeting with representatives of the Northern Ireland Dental Association, the Chairman has written to the Minister today to relay their concerns about not being consulted on proposals for Statutory Rules that relate directly to their profession.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

1. Separate papers have been prepared highlighting the respective remits of the Food Safety Promotion Board and the Food Standards Agency, which have been copied to members.

2. The Assembly will debate the Committee's Report on Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 12 December. Approximately three hours will be set aside for the debate.

3. The minutes of last week's Committee Chairpersons' Liaison Group meeting have not been issued yet.

Public Session

4. Health and Personal Social Services Bill (NIA Bill 3/00): Committee Stage

As the Clauses to be considered fell within the separate remits of each of three teams of Departmental Officials, the Chairman advised that the corresponding groups of Clauses would be examined in turn to facilitate the Committee's consideration of the Bill. The Department had provided advance written responses to each of the Committee's questions raised at previous meetings.

Part I - Clauses 2, 18, 20 and 22

Departmental Officials:
Mr Paul Martin
Ms Pat McAuley

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2:20 pm. The Committee considered each Clause in turn, following an explanatory response from Mr Martin to the Committee's previously raised questions. The entire proceedings are recorded in verbatim transcripts of evidence.

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

In relation to Clause 2, Mr Martin advised that, following discussion with the Department, the NIO has now agreed that relevant staff in probation and juvenile justice settings should be regulated by the Social Care Council as a condition of their employment. Ms Ramsey requested that this decision be minuted as being a positive step forward.

Further to its query on Clause 18, the Committee was satisfied with the Department's figures showing the anticipated running costs and fees associated with the Social Care Council.

Although Clause 21 had been previously agreed, the Chairman will raise with the Assembly Executive the Committee's concern about the inconsistency between the Department's Registered Homes Order and the DoE's Planning (Use Classes) Order 1989 in their respective interpretations of residential care homes.

In its Report on the H&PSS Bill the Committee will recommend that, during the Criminal Justice Review, the NIO should give consideration to changing the definition of a child under the Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order, which is a person aged under 17, to reconcile with the Children (NI) Order's definition, which is a person aged under 18.

Ms Hanna joined the meeting at 2:28 pm.

Resolved:

That Clauses 2,18, 20 and 22 stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 2:33 pm.

Part II - Clause 37

Departmental Officials:
Mr Andrew Hamilton
Mr Stephen Popplestone

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2:34 pm. Mr Hamilton provided an explanation to the Committee's previously raised query, after which the Committee deliberated. The proceedings are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence.

Resolved:

That Clause 37 stands part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 2:37 pm.

Part III - Clauses 50 and 54

Departmental Officials:
Mr John McGrath
Mr Hugh Farren
Ms Margaret Rose McNaughton

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2:37 pm. The proceedings are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence.

Mr McGrath explained that, in response to the Committee's concerns previously stated, the Minister has requested that Departmental Officials draft an amendment to Clause 50 in order to simplify its wording.

He advised that, in deference to the Committee's concerns, the Minister has also requested that Officials amend Clause 54 to extend public access to meetings to include HSS Councils in the list of bodies.

Resolved:

That Clauses 50 and 54 stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 2:45 pm.

5. Departmental Presentation on Capitation Formula Review

Panel Members:
Mr Andrew Hamilton, Director of Finance
Mrs Karen Campbell, Principal Statistician
Mr Martin Mayock, Deputy Principal Statistician

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2:45 pm, after which Mr Hamilton gave a presentation on the Capitation Formula Review with accompanying slides. This was followed by a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked the Officials, and they left the meeting at 4:05 pm.

Private Session

6. AOB

1. The Clerk will prepare the draft Committee Report on the Health and Personal Social Services Bill for consideration at next week's meeting.

2. Agreed: The Clerk will request that the Department provide the Committee with its amendments to Clauses 50 and 54 by Tuesday, 12 December, if possible.

3. Agreed: The Chairman will request that the Minister provide the Committee with an update on the current position of the 'Facing the Future' action plan on winter pressures.

4. Agreed: The Clerk will arrange for a critical analysis of the Department's Equality Scheme document, and ensure that the Committee's written response as part of the consultation process has been taken into account.

7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, 12 December 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 4:12 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

29 November 2000 / Menu / 12 December 2000