COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 25 September 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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 11.04am in public session.
1. Apologies
Thomas Burns.
2. Chairperson’s business
2.1 The Chairperson advised Members that he would be speaking on behalf of the Committee during the affirmative motion for Pneumoconiosis, Etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
2.2 The Chairperson advised Members that a publication (Agenda NI) would be using photographs of the Committee for an article on the Northern Ireland Assembly and its work.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 September Monitoring
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister and from the Department regarding issues raised during consideration of the Department’s return to the September Monitoring Round.
Action: It was agreed to proceed with consideration of future Monitoring Rounds as outlined in the Minister’s letter.
4.2 Neighbourhood Renewal
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister on Neighbourhood Renewal.
Action: It was agreed that the draft letter would be amended and considered again at next week’s Committee meeting.
The Committee discussed the re-categorisation of community projects in Neighbourhood Renewal areas and the role of the Minister in reviewing the funding for these projects.
Action: It was agreed to arrange for a Ministerial briefing on Neighbourhood Renewal as soon as possible.
The Committee moved into closed session at 11.19am.
5. Ministerial Briefing on Liquor Licensing.
The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie and Departmental officials, Tom Bowler and Pat McAlister joined the meeting at 11.20am.
The Minister and officials briefed the Committee on the proposed changes to Liquor Licensing.
The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for their briefing.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 12.12pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would write to the Minister to follow up on issues raised at today’s briefing. The Chair also directed the Clerk to write to the Department providing clarification about the protocol for officials during sessions of the Committee.
The Committee moved into open session at 12.15pm.
6. End of Year Position Report
Alan Shannon and Barney McGahan joined the meeting at 12.17pm.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s 2007-08 Corporate Business Plan, End of Year Position Report.
Ms Lo left the meeting at 12.30pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.40pm.
Ms Ní Chuilín and Mr Brady left the meeting at 12.41pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would write to the Department seeking an update on some of the targets within the End of Year Report.
7. Reform of the private rented sector of Housing: Briefing from Housing Rights Service
Janet Hunter and Nicola McCrudden joined the meeting at 12.42pm.
Representatives of the Housing Rights Service briefed the Committee on the Service’s proposals for the reform of the private rented sector.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.59pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would write to the Department for Social Development seeking an update on the legislative timescale for the reform of the private rented sector.
8. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:
8.1 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.
8.2 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.
9. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s) - Child Maintenance Act
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:
9.1 The Social Security (Child Maintenance Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content with the proposed Rule.
9.2 The Child Support (Consequential Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content with the proposed Rule.
9.3 The Child Support Information Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content with the proposed Rule.
9.4 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content with the proposed Rule.
9.5 The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provision No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
John O’Neill joined the meeting at 1.07pm.
Departmental official briefed the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content with the proposed Rule.
10. 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:
2008/378 The Housing Benefit (Employment and Support Allowance Consequential Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Questions put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/378The Housing Benefit (Employment and Support Allowance Consequential Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
11. Correspondence
11.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding the Federation of Master Builders and its campaign “Building a Greener Britain”.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would forward the correspondence to the Department for Social Development.
11.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding European Social Fund – Match Funding Bids.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would forward the letter to the Minister for Social Development.
12. Forward work programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme.
13. Any other business
The Chairperson reminded Members about an informal lunch reception to take place in the Long Gallery on Thursday 2 October 2008.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.14pm.