COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY, 15 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Hilditch MLA (deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen 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 David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.37am in private session.
The Clerk provided briefing information in advance of the Minister’s attendance during the Committee meeting.
The meeting was suspended at 10.43am.
The meeting reconvened in public session at 10.45am
1. Apologies
David Simpson (Chairperson), Billy Armstrong and Carál Ní Chuilín.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Committee noted the contents of an article submitted to the Housing Rights Review setting out the Committee’s view on comments made by the Chairman of the Housing Executive in relation to the private rental sector.
2.2 Members noted that a media event organised by Macmillan Cancer Support and co-sponsored by the Chairperson would be taking place on Thursday 22 January 2009.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 8 January 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Committee noted information provided by the Department in relation to the payment of the Christmas bonus .
4.2 The Committee noted that the next scheduled briefing on the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency is due to take place on 26 February 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that key advice agencies would be invited to brief Members on the impact of the Review on their work.
5. Briefing by the Minister for Social Development and Departmental officials: Outcome of the December Monitoring Round and the future of the Housing Programme.
The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie and the following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.49am and briefed the Committee on the outcome of December Monitoring Round and the future of the Housing Programme:
Alan Shannon – Permanent Secretary, Department for Social Development;
Barney McGahan – Director of Resources, Department for Social Development; and
Paddy McIntyre – Chief Executive, Housing Executive.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. Departmental officials undertook to come back to the Committee with clarity in respect of the division of funding between the social housing development programme and other housing programmes. Information would be provided setting out the targets and the budgets for the Social Housing Development Programme and the other Northern Ireland Housing Executive programmes for the period 2007-08 until 2010-11 indicating how much was to be funded by land and property sales.
The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for their briefing.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 11.52am.
Agreed: The Committee directed the Clerk to draft a letter setting out the Committee’s views in relation to the issues set out in the Ministerial briefing. This would be considered at next week’s meeting.
The Committee noted that there is expected to be a Take Note Debate on the Strategic Stocktake on 26 or 27 January 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its contribution to the Take Note Debate on the Strategic Stocktake at next week’s meeting.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 12.01pm.
6. Briefing by Departmental officials: Warm Homes Scheme.
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.02pm and briefed the Committee on the Warm Homes Scheme:
Brian Doherty – Deputy Director, Housing Policy, Department for Social Development;
Stephen Martin – Department for Social Development; and
Oliver McHugh – Department for Social Development.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.11pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department endorsing the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee report in respect of: robust monitoring and evaluation of the Scheme and that the Department of Finance and Personnel should have an oversight role in assessing the success of the Warm Homes Scheme.
7. Decision making in the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency – Annual Report.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the contents of the Annual Report entitled: “Decision making in the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency”
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister expressing disappointment with the reduction in the level of decision-making accuracy reflected within the report.
8. Ministerial response to the Administration of Disability Living Allowance Report.
Mr Maginness rejoined the meeting at 12.19pm.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the contents of the Ministerial response to the Committee report on the Administration of Disability Living Allowance.
Agreed: The Committee directed the Clerk to draft a letter to the Minister in relation to the Department’s response to the report.
9. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which have been laid in the Assembly and are subject to negative resolution:
9.1 2008/503 The Social Security (Housing Costs Special Arrangements) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The following Departmental official joined the meeting at 12.23pm and briefed the Committee on the Rule:
John O’Neill – Director of Policy and Legislation, Department for Social Development;
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/503 The Social Security (Housing Costs Special Arrangements) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
The Chairperson invited the official to brief the Committee on the remaining Statutory Rules.
9.2 2008/504 The Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Mr O’Neill provided additional briefing and answered Members’ questions on the Rule.
Noted : Some Members wished to record their concern with implications of this Rule.
Agreed – As there was no consensus within the Committee on support for this proposal, it was agreed to take a vote on the matter.
Question put: “The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/504 The Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
The Committee divided. Ayes 5; Noes 2; Abstentions; 1.
AYES
Mr Hilditch, Mr Burns, Ms Lo, Mr Maginness and Miss McIlveen.
NOES
Mr Brady, Mr McCann.
ABSENTIONS
Mr Craig.
Question accordingly agreed to .
9.3 2008/506 The Housing Benefit (Executive Determination) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Mr O’Neill provided additional briefing and answered Members’ questions on the Rule.
Question put and agreed :
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/506 The Housing Benefit (Executive Determination) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
The Chairperson thanked Mr O’Neill for his briefing.
The Departmental official left the meeting at 12.30pm.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Environment Committee regarding the terms of reference for its Inquiry into Climate Change.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to await further requests from the Environment Committee before considering this matter further.
10.2 The Committee considered a l etter from the Minister for Social Development on the Ministerial statement to the Assembly on liquor licensing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister asking for clarification on the criteria to be used when closing premises.
10.3 The Committee considered a letter from the Clerk to the Employment and Learning Committee enclosing information on the Employment Services Board (ESB).
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for Social Development.
10.4 The Committee considered an email from a member of the public requesting information on progress that the Committee has made with the not for profit mortgage scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to pass the email to the Department for response.
10.5 The Committee noted a l etter from the Department enclosing a copy of the consultation document “The Pensions Regulator – Code of Practice 12: Application of the Material Detriment Test”
10.6 The Committee noted a letter from the Minister for Social Development on the December Monitoring Round.
10.7 The Committee noted a consultation document from the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation on the Social Action Plan 2009-2014.
10.8 The Committee noted a letter from the Minister for Social Development on the outcome of the December Monitoring Round.
10.9 The Committee noted an invitation to the Northern Ireland Housing Conference 2009.
The Clerk indicated to Members that information sought by individual Members in relation to Committee business would be circulated to all Members for information.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
Agreed: The Clerk was directed to write the Department and seek an earlier briefing on the Girdwood Park/Crumlin Road Gaol Site: Equality Impact consultation.
12. Any other business
None.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 22 January 2009 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.39pm.