COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 18 September 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:
Ms Marie Austin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened at 11.01am in private session.

1. Apologies

None.

2. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s) The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.01 am: Mr John O’Neill, Mr Colm McLaughlin and Ms Marie Turner.

Ms Lo joined the meeting at 11.04am

The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 11.33am.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister for Social Development and the Deputy First Minister regarding the proposed Statutory Rule.

The meeting moved into open session at 11.39am.

3. Chairperson’s business

3.1 The Chairperson reminded Members that Danny Kennedy MLA, Jim Shannon MLA and Martina Anderson MLA, on behalf of the Child Poverty Alliance, are hosting a ‘Keep the Promise Campaign Event’ in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 23 September at 12.30 p.m.

4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2008

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

5. Matters arising

5.1 Executive Programme Fund for Children and Young People

The Committee considered a draft response to the Office of the First Minster and Deputy First Minister regarding the Executive Programme Fund for Children and Young People.

Agreed: It was agreed that the letter would be issued.

5.2 September Monitoring

The Committee noted letters that were issued to the Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Finance and Personnel following last week’s briefing on the September Monitoring Round.

Members noted correspondence from the Department providing details on the 1500 new social homes target. The Committee also noted the Department’s return to the Monitoring Round.

Agreed: It was agreed that further information would be sought from the Department in advance of further deliberations at next week’s meeting.

5.3 Report into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use

The Committee noted that the Department had confirmed that it would not be responding to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Report into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Minister in relation to this issue.

5.4 DSD Voluntary and Community Unit: Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Voluntary and Community Work Unit on its forward work programme.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would make arrangements for oral briefings in the coming weeks.

6. Proposed Housing Bill.

Michael Sands, Stephen Martin and Allison Kingsmill joined the meeting at 11.45am.

Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Housing Bill.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 12.15pm.
Janet Hunter and Nicola McCrudden, Housing Rights Service joined the meeting at 12.15pm.

Representatives of the Housing Rights Service briefed the Committee on the proposed Housing Bill.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.

Mr Maginnessleft the meeting at 12.15pm.
Mr Maginnessrejoined the meeting at 12.30pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.41pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would write to the Minister highlighting its concerns in relation to the proposed legislation and that the Department should provide the Committee with further information in tabular format.

7. Neighbourhood Renewal

David Ferguson, Denise Ferguson and Mark O’Donnell joined the meeting at 12.44pm.

Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the written response to questions raised by the Committee following oral evidence sessions with the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.

Mr Hilditchleft the meeting at 12.48pm.
Mr Hilditchrejoined the meeting at 12.58pm.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.

Mr Maginness left the meeting at 1.08pm.
Mr Craig left the meeting at 1.09pm.
Ms Lo left the meeting at 1.10pm.
The officials left the meeting at 1.10pm.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 1.11pm.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister to seek further information/clarification on a number of issues.

8. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)

The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:

8.1 The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on this proposed Rule.

8.2 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.

8.3 The Registered Rents (Increase) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from officials on the proposed Rule.

9. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and have been laid in the Assembly:

2008/356 The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/371 The Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/375 The Social Security (Incapacity) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/353 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Claims and Reconsiderations) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/355 The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Lump Sum Payments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/364 The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/365 The Pensions (Bill) (Actuarial Guidance) (Consequential Provisions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008

2008/370 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Questions put and agreed :

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/356The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/371The Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/375The Social Security (Incapacity) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 353 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Claims and Reconsiderations ) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 355 The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Lump Sum Payments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 364 The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 365 The Pensions (Bill) (Actuarial Guidance) (Consequential Provisions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Ex aminer’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 370 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Ex aminer’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

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

2008/352 The Pneumoconiosis, etc (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 352 The Pneumoconiosis, etc (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”

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

2008/354 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No. 354 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.”

10. Amendment of the House Sales Scheme

The Committee noted the consultation document on the Amendment of the House Sales Scheme to incorporate equity sharing.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would draft a response for consideration after a future briefing on equity sharing.

11. Correspondence

11.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding Monthly Forecast Outturn Data.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would request the Department’s Monthly Outturn Data to support the Committee’s ongoing scrutiny of departmental expenditure.

11.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding the Committee Stage of the Public Authority (Reform) Bill.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would submit a response to the Committee Stage of the Bill.

The Committee considered the Equality Impact Assessment for the Pensions Bill.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would request a copy and summary of responses received to the consultation document.

12. Draft Itinerary for Boston visit.

The Members noted the draft itinerary for the Committee’s forthcoming visit to Boston.

13. Forward work programme

The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme.

14. Any other business