COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY, 22 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 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 Mickey Brady MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10.33am.
1. Apologies
Mickey Brady.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.37am.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Chairperson reminded Members that he would be speaking at a Macmillan Cancer Support media event in the Long Gallery at 12.30pm today.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 10.42am.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 15 January 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister for Social Development setting out the Committee’s views on issues surrounding the Housing Budget as set out during the Ministerial briefing on this subject.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Clerk would make amendments to the letter as indicated and would issue this letter to the Minister.
4.2 The Committee considered the Minister for Finance and Personnel’s statement on the Strategic Stocktake. Members considered their participation at the take note debate on the Strategic Stocktake debate due to take place on 27 January 2009.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Chair would speak at the take note debate on behalf of the Committee.
5. House Sales Scheme – Equity Sharing post consultation report.
The Committee considered the final report of the Amendment of the House Sales Scheme to incorporate equity sharing. Members also noted the Department for Social Development’s comments on consultee responses.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on issues raised by Members and to invite Departmental officials to a future Committee.
6. Department for Work and Pensions White Paper – Welfare Reform .
Mr Burns left the meeting at 10.50am.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the key points of the Department for Work and Pension’s White Paper on welfare reform.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister asking her to keep the Committee informed of the equivalent Assembly Bill and the programme for its enactment. The Clerk was directed to explore the possibility of the Law Centre doing some work on this paper in advance of further Committee scrutiny.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 10.57am.
7. Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency – NIPSA Briefing.
The following representatives of NIPSA joined the meeting at 11am:
Tony McMullan – Assistant Secretary, NIPSA;
Maria Morgan – NIPSA; and
Billy Lynn – NIPSA.
The representatives briefed the Committee on their views on the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency.
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 11.08am.
Members considered the PwC Report on the Social Security Agency and a paper from the Department for Social Development on NIPSA’s views on the Strategic Business Review.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.49am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister asking her to withdraw proposals for the Strategic Business Review immediately.
8. “Can’t Heat or Eat” Campaign – Briefing from Age Concern, Help the Aged and Age Sector Platform.
The following representatives of the “Can’t Heat or Eat” campaign joined the meeting at 11.55am:
Bill Carson – Age Sector Platform;
Duane Farrell – Head of Policy, Research & Communications, Help the Aged;
Alan Herron – Age Concern; and
Eddie Lynch – Age Sector Platform.
The representatives briefed the Committee on their campaign entitled: “Can’t Heat or Eat”.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.20pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer a response on the fuel poverty issue until further briefings had been received. The Clerk was directed to forward a copy of the representatives’ briefing to the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee considered a letter from the Minister for Social Development commenting on the contents of the Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) Report “Changing the Patterns of the Past”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a briefing from Departmental officials on the Strategic Regeneration Framework for North Belfast when available. It was also agreed that the Minister’s letter would be sent to the Participation and Practice of Rights Project for information.
9.2 The Committee considered a letter from the Department for Social Development enclosing a summary of consultation responses to the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of the consultation report, when available and an updated position on the funding of the scheme.
9.3 The Committee noted a letter from the Department for Social Development on possible changes to the funding and infrastructure support arrangements for volunteering organisations.
9.4 The Committee noted a letter from the Department for Social Development on the Committee’s concerns in respect of the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
9.5 The Committee considered a letter from the Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA requesting that the Committee receive a briefing from NIPSA on the budget allocation for housing in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from NIPSA into the Committee’s forward work programme.
9.6 The Committee noted an invitation from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project to attend the Second Hearing on the Right to Housing.
9.7 The Committee noted an invitation to attend the Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland half-day seminar to discuss options for sustainable rural planning policy.
9.8 The Committee noted a letter from the Department for Social Development on Commencement Orders following on from the Pensions (No.2) Act.
9.9 The Committee noted the following items of miscellaneous correspondence:
- Invitation to a lecture by Archbishop Desmond Tutu;
- Information on the teaching of the Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition;
Agreed: It was agreed to forward this information to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
- E-copy of Equality Focus; and
- Offer of a training course on Conflict Management.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
11. Any other business
None.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 January 2009 at 11.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.30pm.