COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 3 APRIL 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness 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)
Apologies:
Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting opened at 11.04am in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2008
Agreed – The draft minutes were agreed.
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Proposed Statutory Rule (SL1)
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rule:
The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. [ ]) Regulations (NI) 2008 .
Agreed – The Committee was content with the Department’s proposal to make the
Statutory Rule.
Mrs McGill sought clarification on how the Department determined whether or not a full Equality Impact Assessment was necessary for Statutory Rules.
Agreed – It was agreed to write to the Department requesting further information on the criteria which the Department used to determine whether or not a full Equality Impact Assessment was necessary.
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Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to confirmative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:
SR 2008/145 – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 145 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and have been laid in the Assembly:
SR 2008/84 – The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 84 The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/88 – The Social Security Pensions (Home Responsibilities) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 88 The Social Security Pensions (Home Responsibilities) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/100 – The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 100 The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/101 – The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 101 The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/102 – The Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 102 The Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) (Local Housing Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/103 – The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 103 The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/105 – The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 105 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/111 – The Discretionary Financial Assistance (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 111 The Discretionary Financial Assistance (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/112 – The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 112 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/113 – The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 113 The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/115 – The Workmen’s Compensation (Supplementation) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 115 The Workmen’s Compensation (Supplementation) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/116 – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures) (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 116 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures) (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/117 – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Non-European Schemes Exemption) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 117 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Non-European Schemes Exemption) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/119 – The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 119 The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/120 – The Social Security Pensions (Low Earnings Threshold) Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 120 The Social Security Pensions (Low Earnings Threshold) Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/121 – The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 121 The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/132 – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 132 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/144 – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 144 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”SR 2008/146 – The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008
No. 146 The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (NI) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
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Public Accounts Committee Report on Child Support Agency Client Funds Accounts 2003/2004 – 2006/2007
The Committee considered the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)Report on the Child
Support Agency Client Funds Accounts 2003/2004 – 2006/2007.Mr Burns, Mr Craig and Mr Hilditch declared that they were Members of the Public
Accounts Committee.Agreed – To await the outcome of the PAC report and subsequent response from the
Department for Social Development .
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Procurement and Social Housing Research Paper
The Committee noted the research paper prepared by Assembly Research and Library
Services on the procurement procedures for social and affordable housing in the
UK and Republic of Ireland.
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Correspondence
i. The Committee noted a letter from the Department explaining that the Minister wished to give further consideration to several issues relating to the review of liquor licensing before briefing the Committee on this matter.
ii. The Committee noted a letter from the Minister confirming that the services delivered
by the Child Support Agency transferred to the Department for Social Development
on 1 April 2008.iii. The Committee considered the Minister’s response to concerns it had expressed about the announcement on the Department’s website regarding the future of Neighbourhood Renewal. Some Members did not concur with the Minister’s view that this announcement was not a significant policy development.
Agreed – As the Committee had requested officials to attend the meeting on 10 April 2008 to discuss the future of Neighbourhood Renewal, it was agreed to raise this matter with officials at that meeting.iv. The Committee considered a paper submitted by the Minister on Committee scrutiny
of parity Bills.
Agreed – The Committee was content for the Minister to attend a future meeting to
discuss this matter.
Agreed – To write to the Executive Committee seeking clarification of its views on
parity legislation for Bills and Statutory Rules.
v. The Committee noted a letter from t he Department outlining the progress that had
been made since the establishment of the steering group taking forward the Strategy
for Promoting the Social Inclusion of Homeless People.
vi. The Committee noted the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s response
to the Draft Regional Innovation Strategy Draft Action Plan.
Agreed – To forward the letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and
Investment to Minister Ritchie, thanking her for her response to the Draft Regional
Innovation Strategy Draft Action Plan.vii. The Committee considered the Draft Public Authorities (Reform) Bill, which the
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had agreed to
forward to all statutory committees, as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft
Bill.
Agreed – As the draft Bill allowed for the abolition of the Disability Living Allowance
Advisory Board for Northern Ireland, it was agreed to write to Disability Action to
obtain its views on the proposal. The Committee would then decide if it wished to
respond to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First
Minister.viii. The Committee received details of a Conference of the Isles housing conference to be
held in Cork on 24 and 25 April 2008. Mr Brady and Mr Burns indicated that they
wished to attend the conference.
The Chairperson asked that any other Members wishing to attend the conference
should contact the Clerk by close of play on 4 April 2008.
Agreed – It was agreed that if three or more Members wished to attend the conference,
the Committee meeting scheduled for 24 April 2008 would be cancelled.
ix. The Committee considered correspondence from the Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP
MLA, in his capacity as MP for East Belfast, asking if information was available on
the Committee’s consultation with Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.
Agreed – To send Mr Robinson a copy of the summary of consultation responses,
advising him that the Committee intended to take evidence in June 2008 from
representatives of the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships and the Department in
relation to this matter.
x. The Committee noted the Minister’s response in relation to the late arrival of officials
who were to brief the Committee on the Strategic Business Review of the Social
Security Agency at its meeting on 28 February 2008. The Minister’s letter advised that
a note had been issued to senior officials across the Department reiterating the
importance of punctuality on Committee matters.
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Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed – To invite Mr David McNarry and Departmental officials to brief the Committee
on the Carer’s Allowance Bill, before the Second Stage of the Bill.
Agreed – To request a written briefing from the Department on the impact of the proposed post office closures, and to then consider having an oral briefing from the Department.
Agreed – To write to the Minister in relation to the recent announcement about the Co-Ownership Scheme, seeking information on the impact this announcement would have on her new housing agenda, and how she intended to assist Co-Ownership in obtaining private finance.
Mr Brady left the meeting at 11.50am.
- Committee Stage of the Charities Bill – clause-by-clause scrutiny
Officials from the Department for Social Development briefed Members on the
Charities Bill. The Committee commenced its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the
Bill and agreed as follows:Clause 1
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clause 1 as drafted”.Clauses 2 to 3
Agreed: “that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that Clauses 2 to 3 be
amended, subject to the Committee being satisfied with the wording of the proposed
amendments”.Clauses 4 to 12
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clauses 4 to 12 as drafted”.Clause 13
Clause 13 deferred for further consideration.Clauses 14 to 15
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clauses 14 to 15 as drafted”.Clause 16
Agreed: “that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that Clause 16 be
amended, subject to the Committee being satisfied with the wording of the proposed
amendment”.Clauses 17 to 51
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clauses 17 to 51 as drafted”.Clause 52
Agreed: “that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that Clause 52 be removed
from the Bill”.Clauses 53 to 73
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clauses 53 to 73 as drafted”.
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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, 10 April 2008 at 11.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.01pm.