COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10.05am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 12 November 2009 were agreed.
3. Pensions- Briefing from Pensions Advisory Service
The following representative from the Pensions Advisory Service joined the Committee at 10:09am:
Mr Tony Attubato – Technical Manager, Pensions Advisory Service.
Mr Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 10:21am
Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10:25am
The representative provided a short briefing on pension issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representative for the briefing.
The representative left the meeting at 10:33am.
4. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division -Briefing.
The following officials from the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division (CMED) joined the meeting at 10:34am:
Mary Quinn – Chief Executive, CMED;
Catherine McCallum – Director of Operations, CMED; and
Andrea Orr – Director of Operations, CMED.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:40am
The officials provided a briefing on CMED’s operations and performance. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 11:16am
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11:17am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification on the following:
- the obligations of step-parents in respect of child maintenance payments;
- CMED’s authority in recouping occupational pension earnings from non-resident parents;
- the comparison between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in respect of the percentage of children who are eligible, but who are not in receipt of child maintenance payments; and
- the capacity to improve reciprocal arrangements with other European Union countries so as to improve the collection of child maintenance payments from non-resident parents.
5. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which were laid in the Business Office:
Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting at 11:19am
5.1 SR 2009/365: The Occupational and Personal Pensions Schemes (Authorised Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/365: The Occupational and Personal Pensions Schemes (Authorised Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
5.2 SR 2009/363: The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/363: The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland).
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer its decision, pending receipt of additional information from the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking further information in respect of the impact of the proposed withdrawal of Urgent Case Payments and the justification for the proposed statutory rule.
6.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.3 The Committee considered the draft EQIA on The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request information on the mitigating measures which are proposed for those in fuel poverty who will be affected by the Regulations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek feedback from organisations who represent older people to seek their views on the consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward the consultation to the Committee for Regional Development and seek its views on the possible impact on free public transport for the over-60s.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding Child Benefit.
Noted: Mr Mickey Brady expressed the view that the Department should have some responsibility for the administration of child benefit payments.
7.2 The Committee considered an invitation from the Minister to the Chairperson to attend an informal dinner at the first housing Ministerial meeting organised under the auspices of the British Irish Council. The dinner will take place on Thursday 3 December 2009 at 7:30pm in the Annesley Room of the Slieve Donard Hotel.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to attend, diary permitting.
7.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister in relation to emerging proposals for a number of parcels of land adjacent to the Glen Road and Monagh Bypass in West Belfast.
7.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation the Empty Homes Action Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Department to brief the Committee on this matter in spring 2010.
7.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to outstanding post project evaluations.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that this letter should be forwarded to the Committee for Finance and Personnel for information.
7.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Social Housing Development Programme.
7.7 The Committee considered a memo from the Committee for Regional Development in relation to its Sustainable Transport Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the memo to the Department and request that the Committee be copied into the Department’s submission to the Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee further agreed to forward a copy of the Inquiry Report into Town Centre Regeneration Report to the Committee for Regional Development for consideration as part of their Inquiry.
7.8 The Committee considered a letter from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project in respect of social housing matters
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this letter to the Minister for a response.
7.9 The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in relation to their Report entitled “Bringing the SS Nomadic to Belfast – The Acquisition and Restoration of the SS Nomadic.
7.10 The Committee considered an invitation to the Chairperson to join a question time and attend the Third Sector Leadership Awards at CO3’s conference on the 4 February 2010.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chair to attend, diary permitting.
7.11 The Committee considered an invitation from the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Prince’s Trust to the Chairperson to attend a festive evening on Thursday 10 December 2009.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chair to attend, diary permitting.
7.12 The Committee noted an invitation from the NI Ombudsman to the Committee to attend their 40 th anniversary celebration event on Wednesday 25 November 2009.
7.13 The Committee were content to note an item of miscellaneous correspondence from the Sustainable Development Commission.
8. Reform of Public Administration – Departmental Briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:44am:
Henry Johnston – Director, Urban Regeneration and Strategy Directorate, DSD;
Geoff Beattie – RPA, Project Manager, DSD; and
Bébhinn Ní Bhriain – Bill Team Leader, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the draft Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill and draft proposals for community planning. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:52am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12:07pm.
9. Housing (Amendment) Bill
Clause 9 Introductory Tenancies
Agreed: The Committee agreed to recommend to the Assembly that Clause 9 be amended as follows: Page 13, Line 20, Insert at the end ‘(5) In Article 148(3)(b) of the Order of 2003 after the word “regulations” insert “(other than regulations under Article 19A (3))”.’
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clause 9 as amended put and agreed to”.
Consideration of Draft Report
The Committee considered a draft Report on the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill. The Committee agreed the main body of the report:
Executive Summary, read and agreed
Introduction, read and agreed
Consideration of the Bill, read and agreed and Clause-by-Clause Scrutiny of the Bill, read and agreed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report to be printed as the Second Report of the Committee for Social Development for session 2009/10.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the relevant extract from the draft minutes of the proceedings of 19 November 2009 would be included in the Committee’s Report subject to the Chairperson’s authorisation.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
11. A.O.B.
11.1 Christmas Cards
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for Christmas e-cards to be issued on behalf of the Committee.
11.2 Committee visit to Derry/Londonderry.
The Committee agreed a public notice to be placed in local papers advertising the Committee’s visit to Derry / Londonderry.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 26 November 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.17pm.