COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting began in public session at 11.03am.
1. Apologies
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 12 February 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters arising
3.1 The Clerk reminded Members that the debate on the Neighbourhood Renewal Report was scheduled for Monday 2 March 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Neighbourhood Renewal Report would be made available to witnesses and Chairpersons of the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships ahead of the debate.
Agreed: Members also endorsed a press release for the Neighbourhood Renewal Report to be issued on the day of the debate.
Miss McIlveen and Ms Lo joined the meeting at 11.07am .
3.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department on the Strategic Business Review.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department asking for clarification on the request for the briefing session to be held in private.
3.3 The Committee noted that its views on recommendations made by the Fuel Poverty Taskforce have been passed to the Minister for response.
3.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Social Development on the Household Fuel Payment.
3.5 The Clerk updated Members with further developments in relation to the Utility Regulator’s consultation on its Social Action Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider draft responses to the consultation from the Regional Development Committee and the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.14am.
4. Volunteering Infrastructure – Briefing by the Volunteer Development Agency.
The following representatives of the Volunteer Development Agency joined the meeting at 11.15am:
Wendy Osborne OBE – Director, Volunteer Development Agency; and
Joe McVey – Chairperson, Volunteer Development Agency.
In relation to the issue of volunteering, the Chairperson declared the following interests:
- Involvement with various community groups and church groups.
Members declared the following interests:
Jonathan Craig
- Board Member of several Voluntary Organisations.
Mickey Brady
- Member of Management Committee of Confederation of Community Groups in Newry & Mourne.
Thomas Burns
- Member of various Voluntary Bodies.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the options for volunteering infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.46am.
5. Volunteering Strategy – Departmental Briefing.
The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 11.47am:
Maeve Walls - Director, Voluntary & Community Unit, Department for Social Development;
Janine Fullerton – Voluntary & Community Unit, Department for Social Development; and
Harry Armstrong – Voluntary & Community Unit, Department for Social Development.
The officials briefed the Committee on the contents of and timetable for the Departmental consultation on a Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12.10pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission additional research on this subject and to receive a further briefing from the Department when consultation responses are known.
The officials left the meeting at 12.23pm
6. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Guaranteed Minimum Pension Increase Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.3 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.4 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.5 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Pneumoconiosis, Etc., (workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.6 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.7 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.8 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.9 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Household Fuel Payments Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content, on a without prejudice basis, for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek clarification from the Department in respect of the use of the qualifying week to establish eligibility for the payment and the exclusion of claimants who were receiving in-patient hospital care throughout the qualifying week.
7. Saving Gateway Accounts Bill – Legislative Consent Motion.
John O’Neill, an official from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 12.34pm to brief the Committee on a Legislative Consent Motion to allow the provisions of the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill to be extended to Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content, on a without prejudice basis, to support the Legislative Consent Motion to allow the provisions of the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill to be extended to Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek further information from the Department in respect of the pilot studies carried out in Great Britain and the limits on the amount of money that can be saved in the Saving Gateway Accounts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister in order to obtain further information in respect of the impact on local credit unions of the extension of the provisions of the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill to Northern Ireland.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12.40pm.
The Chairperson thanked the official for attending.
The official left the meeting at 12.43pm
8. Correspondence
Ministerial:
8.1 The Committee considered a letter updating the Committee on a recent meeting with NICVA in relation to the Compact between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to this issue in the autumn.
8.2 The Committee noted correspondence advising of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive rent increase for 2009/2010.
8.3 The Committee considered a letter updating Members on decision-making accuracy within the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive further briefings on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division.
8.4 The Committee noted correspondence on the Department for Work and Pensions White Paper on Welfare Reform.
8.5 The Committee noted correspondence on funding of some projects in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas.
Departmental:
8.6 The Committee considered correspondence on the Sustainable Development Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a further briefing from the Department on Community Safety Partnerships.
Other:
8.7 The Committee considered details on the Northern Ireland Governance conference on Friday 20 March 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Ms Lo would attend the conference.
8.8 The Committee considered details on the Tackling Alcohol Related Anti-Social Behaviour Conference on Thursday 23 April 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this conference at the Committee meeting of 5 March 2009.
8.9 The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Education attaching a holding reply from the Minister of Education.
8.10 The Committee noted correspondence from NIPSA regarding the Strategic Business Review.
8.11 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee on Procedures on its Inquiry into Legislative Consent.
Agreed: The Clerk was directed to respond to the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures.
8.12 The Committee noted a letter from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister relating to the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
8.13 The Committee considered a letter from the Head of Outreach on the BIPA Committee D Report in its Inquiry into “The Integration of recently arrived migrants to Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales”
Agreed: The Committee agreed that individual parties would respond to this letter and that a response from the Committee was not to be made.
8.14 The Committee considered a letter from DCI Energy Control Ltd relating to the Warm Homes Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to this issue at the meeting of 5 March 2009.
8.15 The Committee noted correspondence from the Save the Children relating to Fuel Poverty.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Bill Office on legislative procedures.
10. Any other business
None.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 March 2009 at 11am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.57pm.