COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY 20 MAY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton 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)
Ms Clarita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Patricia Casey (Bill Clerk) – agenda item 7 only
Apologies: None
The meeting began in public session at 10.03am.
1. Joint Committee visit to the DSD Streets Ahead Project
The Chairperson reminded Members of a joint visit with the Regional Development Committee to the DSD Streets Ahead Project in Belfast City Centre immediately after the Committee meeting.
2. Apologies
No apologies were received.
3. Chairperson’s Business
3.1 The Chairperson advised the Committee that he would be participating in an event organised by the University of Ulster entitled: A future direction for Housing Associations in Northern Ireland on Friday 21 May 2010.
3.2 The Chairperson passed on the Committee’s thanks and best wishes to the Assistant Assembly Clerk, Ms Claire McCanny who is going on maternity leave.
4. Draft minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 13 May 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 11 May and Thursday 13 May 2010 were agreed.
5. Matters Arising
5.1 Assembly Research and Library Services Paper
Noted: The Committee noted a paper from Assembly Research and Library Services entitled: A Quick Reference Guide to Funding Programmes and Measures for Urban Regeneration and Community Development.
5.2 Caravans Bill
Noted: The Chairperson reminded the Committee that the 2 nd Stage of the Caravans Bill is scheduled for Monday 24 May 2010.
6. Welfare Reform Bill Evidence Session - briefing by Age NI
The following representatives from Age NI joined the meeting at 10.08am:
Ms Elaine Campbell Head of Policy, Age NI; and
Ms Amy Veale Policy Officer, Age NI.
The representatives provided oral evidence on the Welfare Reform Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.28am.
The representatives left the meeting at 10.30am.
7. Welfare Reform Bill– Clause-by-clause scrutiny.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the evidence sessions were now complete and that formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Welfare Reform Bill should commence.
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.31am:
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 Department indicated that it could unequivocally assure the Committee that both DSD and DEL would review and amend their guidance to benefits advisors so as to require them to give additional and appropriate consideration to claimants who have: child-caring difficulties; mental illness; a learning disability; domestic violence issues or other caring responsibilities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation in respect of DSD and DEL guidance to benefit advisors from the Minister at Consideration Stage.
Clause 1: Schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: ‘Work for your benefit’ schemes etc.
As a consensus could not be reached on Clause 1 as drafted, the Committee divided on the proposal that:
“Subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 1 as drafted”.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 3; Abstentions 0.
AYES
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mrs Mary Bradley
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Ms Anna Lo
NOES
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Fra McCann
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
ABSTENTIONS
None
The motion was carried.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that its reservations in relation to Clause 1 in respect of the mandatory aspects of the proposed ‘work for your benefit’ schemes and the absence of confirmation that pilots would be undertaken in Northern Ireland would be expressed in the Bill Report and during Consideration Stage of the Bill.
Clause 2: Work-related activity: income support claimants and partners of claimants.
As a consensus could not be reached on Clause 2 as drafted, the Committee divided on the proposal that:
“Subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 2 as drafted”.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 3; Abstentions 0.
AYES
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mrs Mary Bradley
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Ms Anna Lo
NOES
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Fra McCann
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
ABSTENTIONS
None
The motion was carried.
Clause 3: Lone parents
As a consensus could not be reached on Clause 3 as drafted, the Committee divided on the proposal that:
“Subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 3 as drafted”.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 3; Abstentions 0.
AYES
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mrs Mary Bradley
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Ms Anna Lo
NOES
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Fra McCann
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
ABSTENTIONS
None
The motion was carried.
Clause 4: Entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance without seeking employment etc.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 4 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 5: Couples where are at least one member capable of work.
The Department provided assurances thatcaring responsibilities will be taken into consideration when assessing eligibility for Jobseekers Allowance and that carers will not need to be in receipt of benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, to prove that they have caring responsibilities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation in respect of assurances relating to carers and JSA from the Minister at Consideration Stage.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 5 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 6: Statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance.
The Department provided assurances thatalternative provision is to be made for people who currently receive Income Support in addition to statutory sick pay and that existing passporting provisions to other benefits will still apply.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation in respect of assurances relating to Income Support, sick pay and passporting from the Minister at Consideration Stage.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 6 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 11.30am.
Clause 7: Transitional provision relating to sections 4 to 6.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 7 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 8: Assembly procedure: regulations imposing work-related activity requirements on lone parents with children under 7.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 8 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 9: Abolition of income support.
The Department provided assurances that Income Support will not be abolished until a suitable alternative provision is identified for vulnerable claimant groups.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation from the Minister at Consideration Stage in respect of the abolition of Income Support and alternative provision for vulnerable groups.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 9 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 10: Power to direct claimant to undertake specific work-related activity.
The Department provided assurances that both DEL and DSD staff will receive appropriate training to deal with the specific needs of vulnerable groups of claimants required to undertake work-related activity.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation from the Minister at Consideration Stage in relation to assurances relating to the training of DSD and DEL staff in respect of the treatment of vulnerable claimants.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 10 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 11: Conditions for contributory jobseeker’s allowance.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 11 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 12: Conditions for contributory employment and support allowance.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 12 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 13: Mobility component.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 13 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 14: Maternity allowance and carer’s allowance.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11.43am.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 14 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 15: Community Care Grants relating to specific goods or services.
Mr Jonathan Craig rejoined the meeting at 11.49am.
Mr Billy Armstrong left the meeting at 11.50am.
The Department provided assurances that the provision of services relating to Community Care Grants would be subject to procurement best practice and that the Committee would have an input to the relevant contracting process.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek confirmation from the Minister at Consideration Stage in respect of assurances pertaining to procurement best practice for services relating to Community Care Grants and further Committee review during the relevant contracting process.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 15 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 16: Community care grants: reviews and information.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with Clause 16 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Clause 17: Regulations relating to information: Assembly control.
“Question: That subject to the Examiner’s Report or other consequential amendment, the Committee is content with clause 17 as drafted, put and agreed to.”
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would continue formal clause-by-clause scrutiny at the next meeting of the Social Development Committee on Tuesday 25 May 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the reservations expressed by Members in relation to the clauses considered would be set out in the Bill Report and during Consideration Stage of the Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The officials left the meeting at 11.59am.
8. Correspondence
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer consideration of correspondence received until the Committee meeting on 27 May 2010.
9. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
10. Any Other Business
10.1 Ford Report
The Clerk advised the Committee that he would circulate a copy of the Ford Report to Members.
10.2 DSD Announcement
Members indicated disappointment that neither the Committee nor the relevant local residents’ group were notified in advance of the Department’s announcement in respect of the development of the Upper Long Streets, Parkside and Queen Victoria Gardens areas of North Belfast.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to express the Committee’s disappointment in this regard.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday 25 May 2010 at 2pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.02pm.