COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr George McClleland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren McStravick (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10:07am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 14 January 2010 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Welfare Reform Bill
The Chairperson advised Members that the Department had provided a response to the Committee’s letter relating to the EQIA for the Welfare Reform Bill. The Chairperson indicated that the Department had advised that the Minister will not be seeking Accelerated Passage for the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee expressed concern that the Welfare Reform Bill has not yet been introduced and agreed to seek a Departmental briefing on the Welfare Reform Bill at the Committee meeting of 28 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would forward a copy of the Department’s correspondence to the Committee for Employment and Learning and the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10:11am
4. Warm Homes Scheme– Departmental Briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 10:11am:
John McPeake Director of Design and Property Services, Northern Ireland Housing Executive;
Brian Doherty Deputy Director, Housing Division, DSD; and
Eilish O’Neill Senior Manager, Social Inclusion and Support for People, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the Warm Homes Scheme. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:24am
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 10:30am
Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 10:59am
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing
The officials left the meeting at 11:13am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting:
- clarification on the Housing Executive’s policy in respect of replacing deficient heating systems in NIHE tenures;
- information on a Boiler Replacement Scheme in particular clarification on potential sources of funding for the Scheme;
- the Department’s view on the use of the Social Fund to support domestic energy efficiency improvements for benefit claimants or the working poor;
- information on the Department’s plans to simplify the delivery of Fuel Poverty measures;
- information on the number of heating systems replaced under the Warm Homes Scheme owing to health and safety issues; and
- information on the total number of fuel poverty interventions (particularly heating replacements or new heating systems) funded in 2008/09 and 2009/10 under the Housing Executive Fuel Poverty budget and the Warm Homes Scheme budget.
Mr David Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 11:16am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Comptroller and Auditor General to seek his view on the Department’s compliance with the recommendations of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report and subsequent Public Accounts Committee report on the Warm Homes Scheme.
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:21am:
Seamus Cassidy Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Sam Dempster Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
5.1 The officials provided a briefing on the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:22am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing
The officials left the meeting at 11:30am.
5.2 The Committee considered a proposal for Westminster Subordinate Legislation containing devolved provisions: The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to note the proposed Regulations.
5.3 The Committee considered a proposal for Westminster Subordinate Legislation containing devolved provisions: The National Employment Savings Trust Corporation Naming and Financial Year Order 2010 and the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to note the proposed Orders.
Ms Anna Lo left the meeting at 11:38am.
6. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which was laid in the Business Office:
6.1 SR 2010/6: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2010/6: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
Noted: Mr Mickey Brady expressed reservations about the lack of clarity on the definition of “disability” and the lack of consistency in respect of the requirement for medical evidence to support benefit claims.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to the Statutory Rule: The Income Support (Prescribed Categories of Person) Regulations Northern Ireland 2009.
7.2 The Committee considered correspondence from Blackstaff Community Development Association and Blackstaff Homeowners Association in relation to the vesting of homes in The Village Urban Renewal Area.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Blackstaff Community Development Association, Blackstaff Homeowners Association and the Greater Village Regeneration Trust to invite them to submit written briefing papers on The Village Urban Renewal Area.
7.3 The Committee considered correspondence from Advice Northern Ireland in relation to two briefing papers on the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the issues raised in these papers during the Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Advice Northern Ireland to give evidence during the anticipated Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
7.4 The Committee noted correspondence forwarded by the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to Post Project Evaluations.
7.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group’s Report on Disability.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the report to the Department for a response on relevant issues.
Ms Anna Lo rejoined the meeting at 11:40am.
7.6 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to its Inquiry into Participation in Sport and Physical Activity in Northern Ireland.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department, requesting that the Committee be copied in to the response and that upon receipt of the response, Members would consider whether a Committee submission to the Inquiry was appropriate.
7.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to the Promotion of Townland Names.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department, requesting that the Committee be copied in to the response.
7.8 The Committee considered correspondence from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project in relation to the Minister’s response to issues relating to the Social Housing Development Programme.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the relevant Ministerial correspondence to the Participation and Practice of Rights Project.
7.9 The Committee considered correspondence in relation to the alleged mismanagement of a case by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division.
Mr David Hilditch declared an interest at 11:43am – indicating that he believed that he may be related to one of the individuals named in the alleged mismanagement case.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department.
7.10 The Committee was content to note various items of miscellaneous correspondence.
8. Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland – Briefing by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The following officials from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive joined the meeting at 11:44am:
Paddy McIntyre Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Housing Executive;
Stewart Cuddy Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and
Clark Bailie Director of Finance, Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The officials provided a briefing on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s response to the consultation to the Commission’s Key Issues Paper on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Jonathan Craig rejoined the meeting at 12:09pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12:25pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek a briefing on proposals for block leasing and further information on Private Rented Sector leases in Scotland.
9. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would submit suggestions in respect of future Committee visits.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would raise the issue of a review of the impact of Committee work at the next Chairpersons’ Liaison Group meeting.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 28 January 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.38pm.