COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 11 MAY 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Alex Easton 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)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
The meeting began in private session at 2.04pm.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
None.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 22 April 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Welfare Reform Bill – Committee Stage
Agreed: The Committee agreed a motion to seek an extension to the Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill to 17 June 2010.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Delegated Powers Memorandum of the Welfare Reform Bill be forwarded to the Examiner of Statutory Rules for his consideration.
5. Welfare Reform Bill Evidence Session – briefing by the Department for Social Development
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.09pm:
Ms Anne McCleary Director, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD;
Ms Margaret Sisk Assistant Director, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Mr Colm McLaughlin Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
The officials gave a briefing on the clauses and delegated powers of the Welfare Reform Bill and provided responses to questions raised by the Committee.
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 3.48pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the oral evidence.
Noted: The Committee noted Ms Carál Ní Chuilín’s concerns about the potential exploitation of school leavers described as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) following the introduction of the proposed “work for your benefits” schemes.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking more information on:
- the areas in the UK which are to be included in the pilot of the “work for your benefits” schemes;
- the contractual and other controls to be put in place by the Department for Work and Pensions to regulate third party contractors; and
- the definition of “domestic violence” to be used by jobseekers allowance advisers; and
- the conditions which need to be met to qualify as good cause for non-compliance with a jobseeker’s direction..
The officials left the meeting at 3.57pm.
The meeting was temporarily adjourned at 3.57pm.
The meeting resumed at 4.03pm.
Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting at 4.03pm.
6. Welfare Reform Bill Evidence Session – briefing by Advice NI.
The following representative from Advice NI joined the meeting at 4.03pm:
Mr Kevin Higgins Head of Policy and Research, Advice NI.
The representative gave oral evidence on the Welfare Reform Bill concentrating in particular on: “work for your benefits” schemes; community care grants and the contracting-out of employment support services. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representative for the oral evidence.
The representative left the meeting at 4:35pm.
7. Welfare Reform Bill Evidence Session – briefing by Citizens Advice Bureau
The Committee agreed that Agenda Item 7(Welfare Reform Bill- Briefing by Citizens Advice Bureau) be deferred.
8. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reschedule the Citizens Advice Bureau oral evidence session for Thursday 13 May 2010 and to bring forward the starting time of the Committee meeting to 09.30am.
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting is to be held on Thursday 13 May 2010 at 09.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.40pm.