COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY, 8 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
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)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.34am in public session.
1. Apologies
Billy Armstrong and Thomas Burns.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Chairperson confirmed arrangements for the visit to the Eco village taking place after this week’s meeting.
2.2 Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee’s letter to the Minister and the Minister’s response, on the Supporting People Programme would be copied to relevant groups when received.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 11 December 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Agreed: The Committee agreed the contents of a letter to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the scrutiny of European Issues.
4.2 The Committee noted that the Minister would be briefing Members at next week’s meeting on the December Monitoring Round and Housing Budget. The Clerk undertook to request clarification from the Department in respect of reallocations in previous monitoring rounds. The Clerk to make the additional information available prior to next week’s briefing.
4.3 The Committee noted that some of the proposed revisions to the Social Fund – specifically the charging of interest for crisis and other loans had been withdrawn.
5. Briefing by Departmental officials: The Compact between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland.
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.41am and briefed the Committee on both the work of the Voluntary and Community Unit and the Compact between the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland:
Maeve Walls – Director, Voluntary and Community Unit, Department for Social Development; and
Russell McCaughey – Voluntary and Community Unit, Department for Social Development.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 10.49am.
Ms Ni Chuilin joined the meeting at 10.50am.
The officials left the meeting at 11.02am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister setting out the Committee’s views on the Compact; asking for a timeframe for the completion of this matter and inviting the Minister to brief the Committee.
6. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which have been laid in the Assembly:
6.1 2008/485 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/485 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6.2 2008/490 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.6) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/490 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.6) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6.3 2008/497 The Social Security (Child Benefit Disregard) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/497 The Social Security (Child Benefit Disregard) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6.4 2008/498 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.7) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to negative resolution.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/498 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.7) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6.5 2008/502 The Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to confirmatory resolution.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/502 The Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.”
Agreed: The Clerk undertook to confirm to Members when the additional Christmas bonus would be paid.
6.6 2008/504 The Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which is subject to negative resolution.
Noted – Concerns within the Committee were noted that this Rule could act as a possible incentive for the separation of claimant partners.
Agreed: It was agreed to defer further consideration of this Rule until confirmation was received on the time limit which would be applied to the recovery of monies from any overpayment. Officials would be invited to brief the Committee at next week’s meeting.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee considered a letter from the School of Built Environment, University of Ulster inviting the Committee to attend a conference on 12 March 2009 on Integrated Housing and a Shared Future for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer acceptance of this invitation until the forward work programme for February had been confirmed.
7.2 The Committee considered a letter from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Fuel Poverty Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister asking for clarification on how the fuel poverty payments are to be made.
7.3 The Committee considered a letter from the Department for Social Development enclosing further information from the Social Security Agency in respect of the proposed relocation of staff as a result of the Strategic Business Review.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this response until a further Departmental briefing on this issue.
7.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting further information on progress with the outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
7.5 The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on its Inquiry into Public Procurement.
Mr Maginness rejoined the meeting at 11.24am.
7.6 The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Social Fund consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting that it fully consults with the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on proposed changes to the role of the Credit Unions.
7.7 The Committee considered a response from the Law Centre (NI) on the DWP consultation: The Social Fund: A New Approach.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this response to the Department for comment.
7.8 The Committee considered a request from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward its responses on the Crumlin Road/Girdwood Park Equality Impact Assessment to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
9. Any other business
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should not usually include correspondence of questionable relevance in the Committee meeting packs but that this correspondence should be held in the Committee office for Members’ information.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 10:30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:40am.