Present:Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies: Dr J Hendron
Rev R Coulter
Ms C Hanna
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance:Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Ms C Bloomfield (Administrative Support)

Mr Gallagher took the Chair at 2:06 pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Two Meetings

1. The minutes of the meetings of 27 June and 2 July 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

The Committee advisor on financial matters has provided a written response to the Committee's request for clarification on the term "income adjustment" within the HSS Boards' local commissioning budgets, which the Clerk will copy to members.

3. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposal for the following Statutory Rule: Road Traffic (Health Services Charges) (Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

4. Committee Response to 'Developing the Programme for Government and the Budget for 2002/03'

The Committee considered and amended the draft response to the above document from the Executive, which the Clerk will forward to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

i. Agreed: The Committee agreed a draft press statement highlighting its concerns about the proposed Departmental budget for 2002/03, which the Minister has stated would not only preclude further developments within the health and social services sector but place existing services at risk.

ii. Agreed: The Clerk will write to request details (including who will represent the Department) of the inter-departmental working group that is to be set up to investigate the implications of PFI-PPP funding arrangements. He will also arrange a provisional slot in the Committee's autumn programme for a Senior Departmental Official to give a presentation on the subject.

5. AOB

i. Agreed: The Deputy Chairman will approve today's minutes in advance of the next Committee meeting in the autumn so that they can be released promptly on to the Assembly website. The Committee will formally consider the minutes at its next meeting on 5 September.

ii. The Clerk will provide a paper outlining the respective duties and obligations of the Social Services Inspectorate and the HSS Councils, particularly with regard to inspections of residential care homes.

iii. Agreed: The Committee approved a fee for research it had commissioned on an audit trail of Departmental finances down to HSS Trust level. (Annex 1)

iv. Agreed: The Committee will forward to the Executive a letter from representatives of the Haemophilia Society (NI) requesting support for recombinant treatment, a public inquiry into the issue of the safety of blood, and financial recompense for those infected by HCV as a result of unsafe blood.

v. The Committee noted that the Minister has written to the Speaker asking to lay before the Assembly a proposal to create an extra-statutory liability in respect of the Human Organs Inquiry.

vi. Agreed: Following a request from Omagh District Council for an urgent meeting with the Committee to discuss bed closures and staff reductions at the Tyrone County Hospital, it was agreed that the Clerk will check the possibility of the Chairman's meeting with a representative group from the Council.

vii. Agreed: Following a concern raised by Ms McWilliams about the recently highlighted financial plight of the Rape Crisis Centre, the Clerk will write to the Department for details on the Centre's current funding position.

viii. Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Department to ascertain when the proposals for the future delivery of primary care services will be issued.

ix. Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Department to express concern that the recently issued final Children Matter Task Force Report was not copied to the Committee, particularly since it published a major report last year on children's residential and secure accommodation, and to request copies urgently.

x. On behalf of the Chairman and himself, Mr Gallagher extended best wishes to Committee members and staff for an enjoyable and peaceful summer recess.

6. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, 5 September 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 3:25 pm.

MR T GALLAGHER
DEPUTY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
July 2001

2 July 2001 / Menu