COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
OFFICIAL REPORT
(Hansard)
Executive’s Response to the Child Poverty Report including the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy
___________
28 January 2009
Members present for all or part of the proceedings:
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
Witnesses:
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson) )
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly) ) Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Mr Gerry Mulligan )
Mr Michael Pollock
The Deputy Chairperson (Mrs Long):
The two junior Ministers will brief the Committee on the Executive’s response to the child poverty report and provide further information on the Lifetime Opportunities strategy. Following that briefing and questions, the junior Ministers will brief the Committee on the safeguarding children statement.
A paper has been tabled that highlights some areas on which members may want to seek further information. The members’ packs contain copies of the Executive’s response and further information and correspondence concerning the Lifetime Opportunities strategy.
I invite the junior Ministers to join us. They are accompanied by Dr Gerry Mulligan and Mr Michael Pollock. Also in attendance are the junior Ministers’ special advisers — Emma Little and Ciaran Quinn. You are welcome to this afternoon’s Committee meeting. I invite you to make an opening statement, which will be followed by questions.
The junior Minister (Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister) (Mr Donaldson):
I will start, and junior Minister Kelly will also make some opening remarks about the Committee’s report on its inquiry into child poverty.
I thank the Committee for the opportunity to discuss the Executive’s formal response to the report. You will be aware that there have been a number of significant developments since your report was published in June last year and even since the Executive’s formal response in early December. We will have an opportunity to discuss those developments in more detail shortly.
I assure the Committee, once again, of our clear commitment to tackling all forms of poverty. That is a key priority for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM). The Committee’s report was a helpful and valuable tool in progressing the work, and it will continue to have an integral role as we take the issue forward.
Since devolution, we have examined how best to meet our ambitious targets on child poverty. There is no doubt that the best way out of poverty is to get a job with a reasonable wage. It is essential that we identify and tackle the causes of unemployment. There is no doubt that increased job opportunities will contribute positively. That is one of the main reasons for making growing the economy the key objective in the Programme for Government. We accept that that is difficult in the current economic climate, but Northern Ireland does have a number of advantages in attracting investment. However, additional jobs alone are not sufficient to solve the problem of poverty, which was a point that was highlighted in your report.
We have identified a number of key areas and groups that we need to address if we are to meet our ambitious targets. Those include the need to ensure higher educational achievement; the need to tackle low educational aspiration, which is a problem in disadvantaged areas in particular; the provision of adequate and affordable childcare to facilitate better employment prospects for parents, particularly lone parents; the need to remove the barriers that prevent people entering employment, particularly those for marginalised people, such as individuals who have disabilities; and the need to work to ensure better opportunities for young people.
In the Programme for Government, we have committed to work towards the elimination of child poverty in Northern Ireland by 2020; to reduce child poverty by 50% by 2010; and to work towards the elimination of severe child poverty by 2012. That last target is a new one for Northern Ireland. It is a unique target for any jurisdiction in the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland is the first to set such a target. That reflects the priority that we give to those most in need.
The Committee’s report was, therefore, timely and welcome, because it covered, in a comprehensive fashion, a wide range of issues which impact on child poverty in Northern Ireland. Given the breadth of issues covered by the report, in collating the formal Executive response, the First Minister and deputy First Minister consulted with other Departments on the full range of issues raised and the associated recommendations.
The economic downturn is having a clear impact in Northern Ireland. Only this week, we have seen many redundancies across the Province. Inevitably, that will lead to more families living in poverty. We are determined and committed to do all in our power to help those most in need at this time.
In direct response to the situation, the Executive agreed the package that was announced by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Assembly. The aim of that package is to try to ensure continued employment by redirecting funds into capital projects and to provide finance for a range of other measures designed to help those suffering most.
Many of you will be aware that we have established a ministerial subcommittee on children and young people, which is co-chaired by myself and junior Minister Kelly. The subcommittee has identified, among its six priorities, that a holistic and comprehensive approach must be adopted for child poverty. A subgroup has been established to proceed with work on that front. That group is chaired by a senior official from OFMDFM and is comprised of representatives from the Department of Education, the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), the Department for Social Development (DSD), the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). Affordable childcare has also been identified as a key area for the subgroup to consider, and work is ongoing to introduce detailed recommendations.
In December 2008, the Executive moved to adopt the broad architecture of Lifetime Opportunities as their overarching strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland, which included adopting the life-cycle approach and the poverty targets.
We decided that the best way to ensure effective action on poverty was to establish a ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social exclusion. We hope that that will be the key vehicle in ensuring effective cross-departmental work on poverty. We are considering the terms of reference for that subcommittee, and will be convening the first meeting as soon as is practicable.
Our focus will be action orientated, and we are determined to try to do all that we can to secure tangible progress against our targets. In addition, the Financial Assistance Bill, which has been approved by the Assembly, gives us an unprecedented opportunity to examine the adequacy of current provision on poverty. We will be working with the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people and the subcommittee on poverty to identify priorities that can be taken forward using the provisions within the Bill. We also want to work closely with the Committee in order to progress that work.
Today, the UK Government announced their proposals to legislate for their child poverty targets. The Prime Minister gave that commitment at his party conference. A document has been published for consultation, and we will consult Executive colleagues and the Committee on our response to those proposals. I believe that a statement setting out the details of the proposals has been issued by the relevant Ministers in Westminster.
The junior Minister (Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister) (Mr G Kelly):
Committee members will be delighted to hear that I am not going to make a statement. I think that junior Minister Donaldson has covered the issues adequately. I will talk later about the safeguarding children statement.
The Deputy Chairperson:
That is fine, thank you very much for the detailed presentation. Will the UK Government’s proposals be UK-wide, or will they legislate for England and Wales only, with the regional legislatures dealing with reconciling their own targets against those proposals?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
The legislation will be UK-wide. It was announced today that consultation will be carried out with the three devolved institutions. As I said, we will consult our Executive colleagues and this Committee on Northern Ireland’s response to the proposals. The Government will then bring forward legislation that will also apply to Northern Ireland.
The Deputy Chairperson:
You mentioned the Financial Assistance Bill and the opportunity to enhance leadership around poverty and social exclusion through that vehicle. Is it your intention to bring the proposals that may arise from the work of the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people before the Committee for discussion and scrutiny?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
The Financial Assistance Bill was brought in for a very specific purpose; it has a clear remit and each idea will be dealt with on its own merits. We will look to the subcommittee, its subgroup and this Committee to bring forward any ideas on its use. We will discuss that.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
We do not see the Committee just as a sounding board; we will also look to it to identify areas in which it feels that work on poverty needs to be prioritised. We are happy to hear from the Committee. If members think that there are areas that are not getting the attention that they ought to, we will feed that in to the ministerial subcommittee and bring it through the processes there.
We see this very much as a two-way process; it is not just about our bringing forward proposals to consult with you. Equally, and building on the work that you have already done that resulted in your very useful report, we hope that the Committee will be an active partner in this arrangement.
Mr McElduff:
That leads neatly into my question. How has OFMDFM taken into account the recommendations of this Committee’s report of its inquiry into child poverty? The Committee spent many months considering issues of child poverty. It made numerous recommendations to the Department, and we would like to think that it has taken those recommendations on board.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
The comprehensive response to the Committee’s recommendations is a sign of how seriously the Executive take the matter. The report of the inquiry into child poverty has been taken into account, as has the Programme for Government’s commitments to end severe child poverty by 2012. Tackling child poverty is a key aspect of our overall effort to tackle poverty and social exclusion. That is reflected in the fact that the key priorities in the Lifetime Opportunities strategy that junior Minister Donaldson mentioned earlier — for early years, 0-4 years; and 5-16 years — recognise the damaging effects of poverty on children and young people.
Mr Spratt:
Is the Lifetime Opportunities strategy now official Government policy in Northern Ireland?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
In line with its statutory obligations under section 28E of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Executive agreed on 20 November 2008 to formally adopt what we describe as the broad architecture and principles of the Lifetime Opportunities strategy as the basis of our strategy to tackle poverty and social inclusion and patterns of deprivation based on social need. That includes two stated overall objectives; goals for each of the four life-cycle groups; and reconvening the ministerially-led poverty and social inclusion stakeholder forum as one of a range of monitoring mechanisms to gauge progress.
The Programme for Government also restates the overall objective as part of its commitment to tackle poverty and disadvantage and, as a broad framework, the Lifetime Opportunities strategy provides the strategic goals and targets. The Executive will need to decide the actions needed to deliver on those. In essence, we are taking forward the broad framework of the Lifetime Opportunities strategy. Obviously, there have been some changes since it was published under direct rule in 2006. Other initiatives have been taken and documents published that we have had to take into account. However, as I said, the broad framework is based on the Lifetime Opportunities strategy.
Mr Moutray:
How can you ensure that other Departments will follow the lead given by OFMDFM on child poverty?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We set up the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people, and we will set up a ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social exclusion. That, in itself, will allow for the type of focus that we are talking about. After several meetings of the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people, we found that to ensure that Ministers attended and were focused on particular issues, we could not allow it to become too weighed in its initial meetings. Therefore, we intend to follow that example in the new subcommittee. There are a number of cross-cutting issues, and we have six priorities in the subcommittee for children and young people. We will be able to talk to each other about any information that comes from any of those subcommittees. That information will be passed on to the Executive.
Mr Shannon:
It is good to see the junior Ministers here. It is an indication of the relationship that the Committee has with the junior Ministers, and we want to build on that.
The Committee made many recommendations, and the junior Ministers recognised their importance. One of the key recommendations was about affordable childcare. How will the lack of affordable childcare be addressed? May I ask my second question?
The Deputy Chairperson:
Yes, you may.
Mr Shannon:
You are very kind and gracious.
Mr Elliott:
You want to ask only two questions? [Laughter.]
The deputy Chairperson:
Yes; he is allowed only two.
Mr Shannon:
The Deputy Chairperson is a bit harder on me than Danny Kennedy.
When will a decision on the responsibility for school-age care be taken?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
As I stated earlier, the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people is examining the issue of affordable childcare and hopes to publish a preliminary report in February that maps existing provision and explores the wider economic case for childcare. We are happy to keep the Committee advised of developments in light of the recommendations contained in its report. We will set that alongside whatever the ministerial subcommittee produces. We are happy to apprise the Committee of the ministerial subcommittee’s recommendations when they are published.
I already mentioned the work of the subgroup, which deals with issues affecting children and young people. That subgroup is chaired by a senior official from OFMDFM and is examining child poverty, particularly with respect to childcare provision. Childcare provision is an issue that has repeatedly been raised by other groups as a barrier to employment, such as the promoting social inclusion group on lone parents. It is hoped that the subgroup will provide a preliminary report to the ministerial subcommittee in February, and that work will be taken forward through that forum. Therefore, we hope to have in writing about the issue of school-aged care in February.
The Deputy Chairperson:
To clarify, will you update the Committee about that? We are keen to know about that at an early stage.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
Yes, we will.
Ms Anderson:
Will that address the lack of a childcare strategy, which OFMDFM has acknowledged? The lack of a structural childcare strategy must be dealt with, rather than parts of it being picked out and addressed. Given that OFMDFM has already acknowledged that such a strategy does not exist, we must ensure that, in the future, it is embedded.
The policy levers that would have the most immediate impact on child poverty, such as taxation and benefits, are outside the control of the Executive. Many organisations, including the Consumer Council, state that over £350 million is returned every year in unclaimed benefits. There was a session in Derry held by A2B Access to Benefits for Older People at which we were trained in how to help people to claim benefits. I recommend that other MLAs attend similar sessions. The policy to raise awareness about unclaimed benefits is obviously not very effective. Will you raise the issue of unclaimed benefits with the Minister for Social Development? The unclaimed £350 million is a significant amount of money that we need to try to bring back into the system, because it could help to address child poverty, help pensioners and help other people who are struggling.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We must consider a wide range of issues — those groups exist to address wide-ranging issues, so nothing will be ruled out. Any discussions that we have on such issues are fed back in so that we cover all aspects.
As Martina pointed out, there is limited scope for the Assembly to deal with issues such as taxation or systematic and fundamental poverty issues. We do not have tax-raising powers; those sit with Westminster, but we will continue to push them for the best policies that are available.
The Department for Social Development and the Social Security Agency (SSA) take the lead on the issue of access to benefits, and they have welcomed the interest that the Executive and the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people have taken on that issue. They have highlighted the fact that although the subcommittee may be an appropriate forum for considering a holistic and comprehensive approach to child poverty, it must be noted that the interdepartmental group on benefit uptake has already been established, following the study that was commissioned by the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) as a result of the review of domestic rating. The SSA has indicated that the interdepartmental group may be able to contribute to any strategy that is developed by the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people.
We are considering that issue. It is fair to say that the Minister for Social Development and her Department are aware of the statistics that have been mentioned, and we are trying to find other ways to address that. Some very good ideas have been put forward from some groups about what might be possible, but, as far as uptake is concerned, there are legal limits on what we are allowed to do.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
We have done some very useful work with groups such as Help the Aged and Age Concern. As a result of that, DFP is revising several of its application forms with a view to simplifying them. Some forms, such as the housing benefit rates relief form, are very complex. DFP has increased the number of advisers that are available to visit people in their own homes and help them with the application process. Genuine efforts are being made to identify those people who are more likely not to take up benefits for whatever reason, so that we can improve their access to benefit and increase the uptake. The aged sector has responded positively to those efforts, and we must examine how we can work with other sectors in order to increase benefit uptake.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
In answer to Martina’s question, we will raise the matter with DSD and inform it of the Committee’s interest.
The Deputy Chairperson:
Before I move on, I remind all members to switch off their mobile phones, as they are interfering with the recording equipment.
Mr I McCrea:
Jeffrey referred to the ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social inclusion. Which Ministers will sit on that group? How will the subgroup that has been mentioned interact with the ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social inclusion and the ministerial subcommittee on children and young people?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
I have outlined in summary form the responsibilities of the ministerial subgroup. Its membership is comprised of Ministers with the relevant major service delivery responsibilities, namely DARD, the Department of Education, DEL, DETI, DSD and DHSSPS. Other Minister can also attend when appropriate. The Ministers of those six Departments, along with those from OFMDFM, will form the larger part of the subgroup. It is hoped that the first meeting will be convened early this year, and it will meet at least three times a year.
Mr Elliott:
Junior Minister Donaldson mentioned a new target of 2012 for working towards the eradication of severe child poverty. Given that it is a new target, I want to hear more about it. Perhaps the Minister will elaborate.
As Jim Shannon did not ask all five of his questions, I will ask another one. The economic downturn has brought about a change in circumstances, particularly for the Programme for Government. What plans are there to deal with that? The programme’s entire perspective has been changed, especially with regard to getting more people into employment. Childcare has been mentioned. I am concerned specifically about rural child poverty. DARD’s involvement in that has been mentioned. Does OFMDFM have any specific plans to tackle that problem?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
First, members will be aware that, at present, there is no agreed UK-wide measurement of severe child poverty. Part of the next-steps process following the Executive’s decision to adopt the Lifetime Opportunities strategy will be the establishment of the ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social inclusion, to which we have referred.
I believe that I may have said “exclusion” earlier. “Exclusion” was, in fact, stated in the brief. As I read it, I wondered whether it should say “inclusion” or “exclusion”. “Exclusion” is the Sammy Wilson version. [Laughter.]
That subcommittee will consider and decide upon suitable monitoring and reporting frameworks for social inclusion and child-poverty targets in the Programme for Government and the Lifetime Opportunities strategy. We have not predetermined the definition of severe child poverty. We will ask the subcommittee to consider the issue.
We have set the target. Through the ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social inclusion, we want to carry out detailed work on that and determine what is meant by “severe poverty”, so that we can work towards its eradication by 2012. We recognise that that is a fairly stiff target given the current economic climate and the likelihood that more people will move into severe poverty before we can start to turn that around. Therefore, it is a priority.
Mr Elliott:
Again, that depends on the definition and criteria of severe child poverty.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
That is very true. DARD will sit on both the subcommittee on children and young people and the new subcommittee that is being set up. Therefore, it will continue to be involved in the issue.
As regards the economic downturn, I refer to the Executive’s position of 15 December 2008 and the package that was introduced. We intend to continue to act on that through in-year monitoring. As you have pointed out, circumstances are difficult.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
I have been handed a note, which I hesitate to share with the Committee, because it will probably throw up more questions than answers. Broadly speaking, there will be three measures of severe poverty: the first is relative low income; the second is absolute low income; and the third is mixed income and material deprivation. Please do not ask me to define “relative” and “absolute” —
The Deputy Chairperson:
That sounds like an invitation, which, I am sure, some members will not want to pass by. You will be glad that all but two of them have already asked their questions on the matter.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We will consider recommendations on the measurement of severe child poverty — as opposed to child poverty or poverty in general. We are happy to consult the Committee on that matter.
Mrs D Kelly:
I apologise for my late arrival. I attended the launch of the Eames/Bradley Report.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We missed you.
Mrs D Kelly:
You were certainly missed there.
I want to ask a couple of questions, and I apologise if I go over old ground. I welcome the establishment of the new ministerial subcommittee. Will other stakeholders be invited or consulted? One of the junior Ministers said that there will be changes and that while they adopt Lifetime Opportunities strategy, they will take account of new documents. How will that be reflected in the strategy and action plan?
The February monitoring round figures are available and contain a resource reduced requirement of £35,000 because of the delay in the development of implementation plans for the play and leisure policy in the children and young people’s strategy. Given the importance of play to the development of young people, are the junior Ministers — who are the children’s champions — concerned about that delay and the loss of resources in the implementation plans in this financial year?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
I will answer the first part of the question. After this year’s initial meeting of the ministerial subcommittee, it is intended, as agreed by the Executive, to reconvene the ministerial-led poverty and social inclusion forum. It is proposed to consider the original sectoral membership of the forum, which includes all Departments, the NIO and major voluntary- and community-sector organisations. We need to examine the list of members and decide how to progress. However, there will be major sectoral interest.
We are considering the terms of reference for the forum and are happy to listen to the Committee’s views on sectoral representation, taking account, of course, of the practicalities of managing large groups. There may be 1,000 groups, but we are open to listening to the Committee’s views on membership. There is a list available on a website that we can, perhaps, give to the Committee.
The Deputy Chairperson:
The second part of the question was about the play policy and action plan, and I realise that that issue is outside the scope of the brief. However, do you want to comment on that matter or provide more detail in due course? I will leave that decision in your hands.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
You are very generous. I know that the children’s unit is working on that issue, and, if Mrs Kelly is agreeable, we will provide a more detailed response in due course.
Mrs D Kelly:
I am happy with that. However, the question had three parts. If the Lifetime Opportunities strategy and action plans are changed, how will that be communicated to interested parties and to the public?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We can give a commitment that that information will be communicated, and there are several ways to do that internally. However, we will respond on that issue in due course, but we guarantee that the information will be communicated and that we will consider the best ways to do so.
Mr Molloy:
Martina Anderson mentioned unclaimed benefits. There seems to be an opportunity to link different benefits, which are not always claimed. For instance, it seems natural that a person who is entitled to a benefit such as disability living allowance, income support or various different premiums, should be automatically entitled to another. People have to reclaim all the time.
Will the action plans on child poverty be put into a strategy that will follow from the work that is being done? Will that be costed and consulted on before it is put in place?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We indicated earlier that a co-ordinated and concerted effort across a range of programmes — which will, inevitably, cross departmental boundaries — is required in order to tackle poverty and social exclusion effectively. In seeking to ensure that the Executive are kept advised of progress and of the associated cost implications, one of the first issues that the ministerial subcommittee must agree is the basis for monitoring and reporting those issues. We are keen to ensure that real progress is made in that important area. Therefore, it is vital that we choose the right progress indicators to chart our way.
The key issues are monitoring and reporting action plans. Departments have always produced action plans. Sometimes they are criticised for producing a load of action plans that do not seem to be going anywhere. We want a process of monitoring and reporting to ensure that they are enacted.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
At the first meeting of the ministerial subcommittee on poverty and social inclusion, the question of how to monitor and report on the implementation of the strategy will be one of the first items to be addressed. As junior Minister Kelly said, part of that process will undoubtedly involve action plans. It has yet to be decided whether those action plans will be departmental or subject-specific.
Our priority is action, and we want to develop the strategic direction as we get the groups together — including the ministerial subcommittees and the forum — when adopting the architecture of the Lifetime Opportunities strategy. We will also have to cost those key actions to ensure that they meet the constraints that are placed on the financial commitments of each of the Departments.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
Perhaps there is a notion of the way to do that, given that a series of issues are to be addressed. A children and young people’s action plan is already in place, and we want to place all those issues in one arena, so that actions are being added to an existing action plan, rather than having a series of action plans. One of the reasons for having subcommittees is because the issue is so cross-cutting that it needs to be brought into one focused area.
Mr Molloy:
What plans are there for meaningful engagement with young people who are on the poverty line, with low-income families and with young people who suffer as a result of child poverty?
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
To some extent, that has been dealt with by the appointment of a Children's Commissioner. Along with Ministers and officials from OFMDFM, she is introducing ideas for the best possible way to get to the areas that you mentioned. As I said from the start, we are keen not to leave out any areas that relate to children and young people. We have also published versions of consultation processes and of Government plans that are user-friendly to young people.
Ms Anderson:
Where will the budget come from for any new actions that are over and above those for which the Departments have already bid or received?
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
When the ministerial subcommittee identifies an action point, we normally seek to identify the lead Department and consider the funding implications. If that is a departmental-led action point, it comes out of the Department’s financial allocation. Bids may be made through the monitoring rounds if sufficient funding is not already in the budget.
Occasionally, an action point is specific to a particular subject and requires action across a range of Departments. In such a case, junior Minister Kelly and I would work to ensure co-ordination in taking that action point forward. If necessary, we would negotiate with the Department of Finance and Personnel for the funding and we would put together the basket of funding that is required.
Obviously, there are budgetary constraints and limits on the amount of money that is available, but the Executive have identified poverty, particularly child poverty, as a priority in the Programme for Government. Therefore, if we need to draw in funding from other areas, we will do so.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
There will also be the possibility to provide funding by using the criteria that are included in clause 2 of the Financial Assistance Bill.
Mr McElduff:
Recently, the Committee heard from several young carers, who impressed upon us their responsibilities to look after a relative. Will the junior Ministers make a commitment to engage with that same group of young carers, who have an essential message to convey to OFMDFM? Perhaps you have already done so.
The junior Minister (Mr G Kelly):
We attended a conference about caring for the carers, and we are aware that many young people are prepared to care for a relative. We are also aware that their lives can be quite miserable because they cannot get respite or the type of assistance that is needed. Of course, we are prepared to meet those people.
The Deputy Chairperson:
The Committee welcomes that commitment. The young people’s presentation was very challenging, specifically when they were talking about the lack of financial support that they receive when they are under the age of 18. That is despite the significant financial consequences for their families and the burden on their own time.
The junior Minister (Mr Donaldson):
It would be helpful if the Committee provided us with a transcript of that presentation.
The Deputy Chairperson:
I thank you both for the briefing on the Executive’s response to the Committee’s report on the child poverty inquiry, the update on the Lifetime Opportunities strategy and your full and frank answers. Members will have the opportunity to comment on the issues following the conclusion of the junior Ministers’ next briefing.