COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 2 OCTOBER 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady 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 10.35am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Billy Armstrong, Thomas Burns and Jonathan Craig.
Ms Lo joined the meeting at 10.37am.
2. Consideration of Committee report on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance
The Committee considered the draft report on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance paragraph by paragraph. The Committee agreed the main body of the report:
Executive Summary, read and agreed
Introduction, read and agreed
Data Collection, read and agreed
Application Process, read and agreed
Decision-Making Process, read and agreed
Disputes Process, read and agreed
Action: It was agreed that the report should be published and that the Clerk would make the necessary arrangements for laying the report in the business office for debate in the House. The Committee also agreed following motion:
“ That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Social Development on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance and calls on the Department for Social Development to implement the recommendations.”
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11am.
The meeting moved into open session at 11.05am.
3. Chairperson’s business
None
4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
5. Matters arising
5.1 Neighbourhood Renewal
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister on Neighbourhood Renewal.
Action: It was agreed that the letter would be issued.
5.2 Liquor Licensing
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister on Liquor Licensing.
Action: It was agreed that the letter would be issued.
6. Publicity for informal reception on 2 October 2008
The Committee considered a draft press release for the informal reception.
Action: It was agreed that the press release would be revised and emailed to Members for consideration before issue.
7. Departmental briefing on the Pensions (No.2) Bill
John O’Neill, Gerry McCann and Seamus Cassidy, joined the meeting at 11.14am.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 11.15am.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Pensions (No.2) Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
Ms Lo left the meeting at 11.35am.
The officials left the meeting at 11.36am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would invite a stakeholder group to a future meeting to discuss the proposed Bill further.
8. Departmental briefing on the Review of Public Administration
David Ferguson, Michael Sands and Geoff Beattie joined the meeting at 11.39am.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s progress on the implementation of the Review of Public Administration.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11.58am.
Agreed: The officials agreed to provide the Committee with a further document highlighting key milestones for progress with implementation. The Committee directed the Clerk to make the necessary arrangements for a lunch-time session as a follow up to today’s briefing.
9. DFP Review of Budget Logistics
The Committee considered a response to the Department for Finance and Personnel on its Review of Budget Logistics.
Agreed: It was agreed that Members would forward comments to the Clerk which could be added as an explanatory note to the response, this would then be considered at the next Committee meeting.
10. Proposed Mortgage Rescue Scheme for Northern Ireland
The Committee noted a consultation document on the proposed Mortgage Rescue Scheme. Members also noted a briefing paper prepared by the Housing Rights Service on Mortgage Rescue (and Flexible Tenure) Schemes.
Agreed: It was agreed to return to this issue at the Committee meeting on 23 October 2008.
11. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:
11.1 The Employment and Support Allowance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.
11.2 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.**) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.
11.3 The Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee indicated that whilst it was content with the proposed Rule, it would write to the Department highlighting concerns in respect of the benefits and costs of this Rule.
11.4 Charities Act ( Northern Ireland) 2008 – Commencement Orders
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposed Rule.
12. 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:
2008/388 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Transfer of Values) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Questions put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/388The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Transfer of Values) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
Correspondence
13.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Social Development regarding the European Social Fund – match funding applications.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would seek an update on what groups have and have not received funding from the Department for Employment and Learning.
13.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Social Development regarding the Springvale Masterplan.
13.3 The Committee noted correspondence forwarded from the Committee for Employment and Learning from the Ulster Supported Employment Limited.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department with regard to appropriate administrative arrangements for mentally impaired claimants.
13.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the Pensions Bill – Equality Impact Assessment.
13.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations regarding its Annual conference 2008.
Agreed: It was agreed there would be no Committee meeting on 13 November 2008 and that if any Member wishes to attend the conference they would inform the Committee Clerk.
13.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department and the Minister for Social Development regarding the Presbytery of Coleraine.
13.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk of the Local Government and Communities Committee in the Scottish Parliament.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Scottish Clerk to discuss this issue further.
13.8 The Committee noted correspondence from a current employee of DSD.
13.9 The Committee noted correspondence from a Parliamentary Advisor in the Society for Human Improvement and Protection in Nepal.
13.10 The Committee considered correspondence from the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Minister and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
14. Forward work programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme.
15. Any other business
The Chairperson reminded Members about an informal lunch reception to take place in the Long Gallery at 12.30pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20pm.