COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 6 MARCH 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Ms Anna Lo 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)
Mr Neil Currie (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Ms Jennifer Betts – Assembly Research and Library Services (Item 11 only)

Apologies:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA

The meeting opened at 11.04am in public session.

The Clerk informed Members that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson had given
their apologies and explained the procedure for electing a Chairperson for the
meeting.

The Clerk called for nominations for the position of Chairperson. Mr McCann proposed
that Mr Cobain do take the chair of the Committee. Mr Brady seconded this proposal
and Mr Cobain accepted the nomination.

There being no further nominations, the Clerk put the question without debate.

Question put and agreed:

That Mr Cobain act as Chairperson for this meeting.

Mr Cobain took the Chair at 11.05am.

Mr Cobain informed Members that he would have to leave the meeting at 12.30pm.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s business

The Clerk was not aware of any Chairperson’s business to report.

Ms Lo joined the meeting at 11.06am.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2008

Agreed – The draft minutes were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Mr Burns and Mr McCann confirmed that they wished to attend the conference on
‘Developer Contributions in Housing: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?’ to be held on 9 April
2008.

5. Briefing by Minister Margaret Ritchie on proposed Local Housing Allowance
   Regulations

Minister Margaret Ritchie joined the meeting at 11.08am, accompanied by the following officials:

John O’Neill – Social Security Policy & Legislation Division
Margaret Sisk – Social Security Policy & Legislation Division

The Minister briefed the Committee and answered Members’ questions on the following proposed Statutory Rules:

The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (NI) 2007.
The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007.
The Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit ) (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007.
The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2007.

The Minister explained that the new arrangements would be piloted for one year (during the financial year 2008-2009), and that these arrangements would not continue after that period without consultation with the Committee. The Minister gave an assurance that no one affected by the new arrangements would be financially worse off during the pilot period than they currently are. The Minister gave an undertaking that the impact of the new arrangements would be monitored on a quarterly basis and that the Department would brief the Committee after each quarterly review.

The Minister agreed to provide the Committee with the following information:

i. Details of the criteria that will be used to monitor the impact of the Local Housing Allowance Regulations.
ii. The duration of discretionary housing payments.

The Minister stated that she would consider any further evidence that Members had
relating to variations in rent costs, i.e. any evidence that would contradict the median
rent figures provided to the Committee. The Chairperson asked Members to send any
such evidence to the Clerk, by close of play on 11 March 2008. The information
received would be forwarded to the Minister.

The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for the informative briefing.

The Minister and officials left the meeting at 11.45am.
Mrs McGill left the meeting at 11.45am.

Agreed – As there was no consensus within the Committee on the proposed Local
Housing Allowance Regulations, it was agreed to take a vote on the matter.

The Committee divided. The following Members voted for the proposal:

Mr Burns, Mr Cobain, Ms Lo, Miss McIlveen.

The following Members voted against the proposal:

Mr Brady, Mr McCann.

The proposal was therefore carried.

Agreed – To inform the Minister that the Committee was content with the Department’s
proposal to make the Rules, on the understanding that:

i. the new arrangements would be piloted for one year (during the financial year 2008-
2009), and that these arrangements would not continue after that period without
consultation with the Committee;
ii. no one affected by the new arrangements would be financially worse off during the
pilot period than they currently are; and
iii. the impact of the new arrangements would be monitored on a quarterly basis and
that the Department would brief the Committee after each quarterly review.

Mrs McGill rejoined the meeting at 11.47am.

6. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)

The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:

The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (NI) 2008.
The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (NI) 2008.
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Non-European Schemes Exemption) Regulations
(NI) 2008.
The Occupational Pension Schemes (General Levy) (Amendment) Regulations (NI)
2008.
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt) (Amendment) Regulations (NI)
2008.
The Pension Protection Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008.
The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (NI) 2008.

Agreed – The Committee was content with the Department’s proposal to make the
Statutory Rules.

7. Statutory Rule laid in the Assembly

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:

SR 2008/69 – The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 69 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and has no objection to the Rule.”

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to affirmative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:

SR 2008/73 – The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 73 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”

8. Neighbourhood Renewal – consideration of Department’s response to results of Committee questionnaire

The Committee received the Department’s response to the results of the Committee
consultation with Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.

Agreed – To invite a representative from each Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership to
meet formally with the Committee to discuss issues raised during the Committee consultation.
Departmental officials would also attend the meeting to answer questions from
Committee Members on the issues raised by Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.

Agreed – The Committee was content for the Clerk to meet informally with
representatives from the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships, to discuss the format
and structure of the Committee meeting.

9. Correspondence

i. The Committee noted the response from the Minister providing further clarification of the difference between social and affordable housing. The Committee also noted the Minister’s intention, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, to accept and immediately adopt the Semple recommendation that affordable housing should be related to the ability to pay and to be affordable, and housing costs should not exceed 35% of gross household income.

ii. The Committee noted the response from Minister Ritchie, stating that it would be inappropriate for the Committee to have a copy of the legal advice Minister Robinson had sought in relation to her decision to withdraw funding for the Conflict Transformation Initiative project. Minister Ritchie’s view was that, as the case was before the Courts, the convention regarding matters sub judice should be observed.

iii. The Committee noted the response from the Minister confirming that she would ensure that consideration would be given to additional ways of increasing response rates, in relation to targeting those who were not accessing their full benefit entitlement.

iv. The Committee noted the letter t he Minister had sent to the Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, confirming that she was content for her officials to give evidence to its inquiry into child poverty.

v. The Committee noted the Department’s response to its request for further information on the financial implications of the Private Members’ Bill on the payment of Carer’s Allowance proposed by Mr David McNarry.

vi. The Committee considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel advising that Central Procurement Directorate within the Department of Finance and Personnel, had offered to run a short awareness session for committees on Public Procurement.

Agreed – To accept the offer of an awareness session. This should take place prior to the commencement of a Committee meeting during April 2008.

vii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Climate Change Coalition Northern Ireland requesting to brief the Committee on its proposals for legally binding CO 2 reduction targets.

Agreed – To invite representatives of the Coalition to an informal reception to be hosted by the Committee in Parliament Buildings.

viii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Workers’ Educational Association, inviting the Chairperson to speak at a conference on working with Local Government and the Assembly to be held on 24 and 25 April 2008.

Agreed – Members were content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson to speak at the conference on behalf of the Committee.

ix. Some Members had received correspondence from an individual in relation to their dealings with the Child Support Agency.

Agreed – To write to the Department, asking it to ensure that the individual’s situation was dealt with, and to advise them accordingly.

x. The Committee considered correspondence from the Waterside Area Partnership expressing concern that Neighbourhood Renewal funding for the North West was due to end on 31 March 2008.

Agreed – To forward the correspondence to the Department, asking it to respond directly to Ms McClintock, copying the Committee into the response.

Agreed – To request the following information from the Department:

• an update on the position regarding Neighbourhood Renewal partnerships where funding is due to end on 31 March 2008;
• details of the number of jobs that will be impacted upon if a decision regarding funding is not made by 31 March 2008.

10. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

11. Committee Stage of the Charities Bill – evidence sessions

The following representatives from Magheraknock Mission Hall joined the meeting at 12.05pm:

Mr Ronnie Douglas
Mr Mark Gibson

The representatives gave oral evidence on the Charities Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.26pm.

As the Chairperson had to leave the meeting, he called for nominations for the
position of Chairperson. Mr McCann proposed that Mr Brady do take the chair of the
Committee. Mrs McGill seconded this proposal and Mr Brady accepted the nomination.

There being no further nominations, the Chairperson put the question without debate.

Question put and agreed:

That Mr Brady act as Chairperson for the remainder of this meeting.

Mr Cobain left the meeting at 12.27pm and Mr Brady took the chair.

Representatives from the following religious groups joined the meeting at 12.28pm:

Pastor Lewis Smyth – Jordan Victory Church
Mr Brian Agnew – Kingdom Life Faith Centre
Pastor David Goudy – Moira Pentecostal Church
Pastor Nick Serb – Mount Zion Free Methodist Church

The representatives gave oral evidence on the Charities Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.

The representatives left the meeting at 1.00pm.

12. Committee Stage of the Charities Bill – clause-by-clause scrutiny

Agreed – To deal with some sections of clauses en-bloc.

Officials from the Department for Social Development briefed Members on the Charities Bill, and the Committee continued its clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 1.14pm.

13. Any other business

None.

14. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 March 2008 at 11.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.38pm.

Mr Gregory Campbell
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
13 March 2008

28 February 08 / Menu