COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY 18 March 2010
Room 135, Parliament buildings, STORMONT
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns 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)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assembly Research and Library Services - Item no.10 only)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began in public session at 12:17pm.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted an article submitted by the Chairperson to Agenda NI on Town Centre Regeneration.
3. Employment and Support Allowance Processing Centre
The Committee noted background information on the Employment and Support Allowance Processing Centre.
4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 11 March 2010 were agreed.
5. Matters Arising
5.1 Committee Visit
Noted: The Committee noted a press release relating to the Committee’s visit to the ESA Processing Centre on Thursday 18 March 2010
5.2 Nelson Street
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister seeking an update on the reported PSNI investigation into matters relating to the Nelson Street site.
6. Briefing from the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company
The following officials joined the meeting at 12.19pm:
Sir Roy McNulty Chairman, Ilex Urban Regeneration Company; and
Dr Aideen McGinley Chief Executive, Ilex Urban Regeneration Company.
The officials provided a briefing on the Regeneration Plan for the North West. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Ms Anna Lo joined the meeting at 12:21pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.54pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Department to seek clarification on the plans for social housing at the Ebrington site and on Ilex’s capacity to access private debt finance.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Chairperson of the OFMDFM Committee to suggest a concurrent meeting of both Committees in the autumn to review the feedback from the consultation on the Ilex Mark II Regeneration Plan.
7. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
7.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
8. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which were laid in the Business Office:
8.1 SR 2010/55: The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 .
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 12:59pm.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010 No. 55: The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
Agreed: Members expressed concerns in respect of discrepancies in the sick pay assessment policy and agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarification on how policy and practice could be aligned to address this issue.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to revisit this issue during the anticipated Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
8.2 SR 2010/56: The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/56: The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.3 SR 2010/62: The Social Security (Maximum Additional Pension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/62: The Social Security (Maximum Additional Pension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.4 SR 2010/69: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/69: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.5 SR 2010/73: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/73: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.6 SR 2010/74: The Pensions Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/74: The Pensions Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.7 SR 2010/80: The Pensions Protection Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/80: The Pensions Protection Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.8 SR 2010/81: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/81: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8.9 SR 2010/82: The Social Security (Contributions Credits for Parents and Carers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010/82: The Social Security (Contributions Credits for Parents and Carers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly”.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister regarding the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconsider the issues raised in the Minister’s letter during the anticipated Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chairman of the Strand Road Traders’ Association.
9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister in relation to the results of an Equality Impact Assessment on the Crumlin Road Gaol/Girdwood Park draft Masterplan.
9.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the OFMDFM Committee’s report into child poverty.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek an update on the outcome of the planned evaluation of the Social Security Agency’s Benefit Uptake Programme in June 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister indicating the Social Development Committee’s support for the DSD suggestion that the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People should consider the development of a cross-departmental Benefit Uptake Strategy.
9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect of the proposed second Housing Bill.
9.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Liquor Licensing Bill.
9.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Social Security Agency in relation to the PSI Working Group Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the OFMDFM Committee.
9.8 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the Fuel Poverty Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Minister.
9.9 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in respect of the uptake of pension credit.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to obtain more information about the uptake of pension credit.
9.10 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning the Bike to Work Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Minister.
9.11 The Committee considered correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee in relation to the Memorandum of Reply on the PAC Report on the Review of New Deal 25+.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department and to request more information on the measures which are currently being taken to address the adverse impact of the so-called “benefit trap” on Steps to Work participants.
9.12 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in respect of the establishment of an ad-hoc committee on the provision of support for carers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel suggesting that further consideration of measures to support carers be deferred until after the anticipated publication of the White Paper on Shaping the Future of Care Together.
9.13 The Committee considered correspondence from SOLACE NI in relation to the introduction of a mandatory landlord registration scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the issues raised by SOLACE NI during the anticipated Committee Stage of the proposed second Housing Bill.
9.14 The Committee considered correspondence from Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in relation to the economic appraisal for the provision of childcare and the launch of a draft childcare strategy in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Office of the First and deputy First Minister requesting a copy of the report on the economic appraisal of the strategic options for the provision of childcare in Northern Ireland.
9.15 The Committee considered correspondence from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland on behalf of the Building Change Trust requesting an opportunity to brief the Committee on their proposed strategy and programmes to support the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Building Change Trust to seek a written briefing on their strategy and programmes for the period 2010-2013.
9.16 The Committee noted an invitation from the Neighbourhood Renewal Training Team in relation to the International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal 2 nd Annual Conference and Annual Awards ceremony which takes place in London in November 2010.
9.17 The Committee considered correspondence from the Human Rights Centre, Queens University, Belfast requesting an opportunity for the research project team to present some of their findings on: Budget Analysis and the Advancement of Economic and Social Rights in Northern Ireland to the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Human Rights Centre at Queens to decline the request for an oral briefing but to request a copy of their forthcoming case study on the right to housing.
9.18 The Committee noted an invitation from National Energy Action to attend a breakfast seminar at the Stormont Hotel on Monday 26 April 2010 to launch a three year campaign aimed at highlighting the real life experiences of Fuel Poverty amongst Older People in Northern Ireland.
9.19 The Committee noted various items of miscellaneous correspondence from the British Heart Foundation and Advice NI.
Ms Anna Lo left the meeting at 1.28pm
10. Social and Affordable Housing – Briefing by Assembly and Research and Library Services.
Ms Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on issues relating to social and affordable housing. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Murphy for her briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Assembly Research and Library Services paper.
11. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
12. A.O.B
12.1 National Employment Savings Trust
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarification on the implications for employers and employees of the reported charge which is to be imposed to cover the set-up and operational costs of the National Employment Savings Trust.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 25 March 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.34pm.