COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stewart Kennedy (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
None

The meeting began at 9.35am in closed session.

Mr Craig joined the meeting at 9.38am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to place a notice in the press and to write to stakeholders seeking evidence for the Committee Stage of the Carer’s Allowance Bill.

The Committee moved into open session at 9.44am.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson passed on the Committee’s best wishes to Mr John McCallister who has left the Committee.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Fred Cobain as a new Member of the Committee.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2011

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 3 February 2011 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

4.1 DWP Consultation on Disability Living Allowance Reform.

Agreed: The Committee agreed its response to the DWP Consultation on Disability Living Allowance Reform.

4.2 Press Release – Informal Stakeholder Event

Agreed:The Committee agreed a press release for the Committee’s informal stakeholder event on 10 February 2011.

4.3 Further Consideration Stage – Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill

The Committee noted the amendments to be considered at the Further Consideration Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.

5. Draft Budget 2011-2015 consultation

The Committee noted an Assembly Research briefing document on the poorest income quintile in Northern Ireland. The Committee also noted a copy of the PSE UK document entitled: “Response to Northern Ireland’s Draft Budget”.

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 9.49am:

Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, DSD;

Barney McGahan, Deputy Secretary, Resources, Housing Social Security Group, DSD;
David Ferguson, Deputy Secretary, Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group, DSD;
Tommy O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Social Security Agency, DSD; and
Catherine McCallum, Acting Head of Child Maintenance Enforcement Division, DSD.

The officials briefed the Committee on the Draft Budget 2011-2015. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 10.10am.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 11.00am.

Some Members highlighted concerns relating to the proposed number of new social houses to be built in the budget period under the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP).

Some Members indicated concerns in respect of the viability of the proposed increase in Housing Association contributions to the SHDP as a mechanism for increasing the number of new social houses built in the budget period.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking further clarification on these issues and on the strategic use of land as a means of reducing the costs of the SHDP.

Agreed: The Committee further agreed to include reference to these matters in its short report on the Draft Budget 2011-15.

6. Correspondence

6.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department responding to the Committee’s queries in respect of the costs of Disability Living Allowance Reform; the 83,000 DLA claimants who also receive other means-tested benefits; the 41,000 DLA claimants recorded as having a mental condition and the use of functional evaluations for the assessment of these claimants.

6.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding a request from Down and Dromore Youth Council for a study to be undertaken on the impact of faith-based organisations. The Committee noted the Department’s advice that the Faith Forum is to undertake some related qualitative research.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Departmental response to the Down and Dromore Youth Council for information.

6.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in response to the Committee’s letter of 18 January 2011 regarding cross-departmental rural development issues.

6.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing an update on its discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders on negative equity issues relating to development areas and indicating the publication status of the transcript of the Village public inquiry.

6.5 The Committee considered correspondence from a resident of the Village area highlighting issues relating to negative equity and the vesting of his home.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for clarification on the policy issues.

6.6 The Committee noted correspondence from NIPSAproviding a copy of its response to the Department’s Universal Credit consultation.

6.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unionsproviding a copy of its response to the Department’s Universal Credit consultation.

6.8 The Committee noted an invitation from Capita Conferences to a Community Safety conference in Central London on Wednesday 6 April 2011

6.9 The Committee considered an invitation from the Department relating to the new concordat between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should contact the Department so as to avoid the scheduling of further Departmental events during Committee meetings.

6.10 The Committee noted an invitation from the UK Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the Chairperson to attend a seminar entitled “The OECD at 50: Better Policies for Better Lives” in Paris on 24 February 2011.

6.11 The Committee noted items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Law Centre NI and Citizens Advice.