COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Room 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Gregory Campbell (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Marie Austin (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Judith Murdoch (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Ms Jennifer Betts – Assembly Research & Library Services
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
The meeting opened at 11.05am in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Chairperson’s business
None.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2008
Agreed - the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters arising
Mrs McGill thanked the Clerk for providing a list of organisations that had requested to meet the Committee in relation to its Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration.
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Committee Stage of the Charities Bill – evidence session
The Committee noted a response from the Department for Social Development on issues it raised in relation to the Charities Bill.
The following representatives from the Volunteer Development Agency joined the meeting at 11.08am:
Wendy Osborne - Director
Denise Hayward - Assistant Director.The representatives gave oral evidence on the Charities Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Maginness joined the meeting at 11.17am.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.20pm.
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Charities Bill – Committee Motion to extend Committee Stage
The Committee considered a paper prepared by the Clerk on the possible extension of the Committee Stage of the Bill; a draft motion requesting an extension; and a draft timetable for Committee Stage. The Clerk and Principal Clerk spoke to the paper.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 11.24am.
Miss McIlveen joined the meeting at 11.31am.
Agreed – the proposal to extend Committee Stage of the Bill; a motion requesting an extension to the Committee Stage of the Bill; and, the timetable for Committee Stage.
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Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) Report on Social Security Benefit Fraud and Error
The Committee considered a briefing paper prepared by the Clerk on the NIAO Report on Social Security Benefit Fraud and Error.
Agreed –to write to the Department requesting comments on each recommendation in the report, including details of how the Department intends to take each recommendation forward.
The Chairperson informed members that the Public Accounts Committee is due to take evidence from the Department for Social Development officials at a public meeting on 21 February 2008.
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Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:
The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Social Security (National Insurance Numbers) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Ms Lo requested a copy of the lists of documents which constitute evidence of the right to work to enable employers to establish whether an individual has permanent or time-limited entitlement to work, as referred to in the Department’s briefing on the proposals.
Agreed – the Committee was content with the Department’s proposals to make the Statutory Rules.
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Local Housing Allowance: Proposed Statutory Rules
The Committee noted the Department’s response to its concerns on the proposed Statutory Rules.
Agreed – to await a response from the Minister on the Committee’s request to meet with her to discuss its concerns.
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Briefing by Officials from the Department for Social Development on proposed Statutory Rules regarding The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations
The following officials joined the meeting at 11.37am:
Mr John O’Neill – Director, Social Security Policy & Legislation Division
Mr Gerry McCann – Social Security Policy & Legislation Division
Ms Janis Creane – Social Security Policy & Legislation Division.The officials briefed the Committee on the following proposed Statutory Rules:
The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Departmental officials agreed to provide written clarification on training to be undertaken by staff in the Social Security Agency who will administer the proposed new benefit.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.17pm.
Agreed – the Committee was content with the Department’s proposals to make the Statutory Rules.
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Correspondence
i. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Social Development in relation to a proposed retail-led regeneration scheme in the North East Quarter of Belfast City Centre.
Agreed – to write to the Minister and ask her to define affordable housing and to clarify the difference between affordable and social housing.
ii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to an Urban Renewal Scheme in the Village area of south Belfast.
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Forward Work Programme
The Clerk informed Members of two changes to the forward work programme - the Minister will now attend the Committee meeting on Thursday 21 February 2008 to brief the Committee on the Budget 2008-2011, Programme for Government and the Investment Strategy. Mr McNarry MLA will attend the Committee meeting on 7 February 2008 to brief the Committee on his proposed Private Members’ Bill on the payment of Carer’s Allowance.
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Any other business
None.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 February 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.21pm.