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Social Development CommitteeEnd of Session Report 2010-11Membership and PowersThe Committee for Social Development is a Statutory Departmental Committee established in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Belfast Agreement, section 29 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and under Standing Order 48. The Committee has power to:
The Committee has 11 members including a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and a quorum of 5. The membership of the Committee since 9 May 2007 has been as follows: 2 5 Mr Simon Hamilton (Chairperson) 1 With effect from 20 May 2008 Ms Carál Ní Chuilín replaced Mrs Claire McGill 2 With effect from 9 June 2008 Mr David Simpson MP MLA replaced Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA as Chairperson of the Social Development Committee. 3 With effect from 29 September 2008 Mr Billy Armstrong replaced Mr Fred Cobain 4 With effect from 29 June 2009 Mrs Mary Bradley replaced Mr Alban Maginness 5 With effect from 4 July 2009 Mr Simon Hamilton replaced Mr David Simpson MP MLA as Chairperson of the Social Development Committee 6 With effect from 14 September 2009 Mr Alex Easton replaced Miss Michelle McIlveen 8 With effect from 24 May 2010 Mr Tommy Gallagher replaced Mr Thomas Burns 9 With effect from 13 September 2010 Mr Sydney Anderson replaced Mr David Hilditch 10 With effect from 1 November 2010 Mr John McCallister replaced Mr Billy Armstrong 11 With effect from 8 February 2011 Mr Fred Cobain replaced Mr John McCallister End of Session Report 2010-11During the period 1 September 2010 until 24 March 2011, the Social Development Committee completed a substantial work programme including 26 meetings – 19 of which were entirely in public. 7 meetings were partially in private session generally to allow Committee Members to consider Departmental briefings on ongoing investigations at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Details of the key items of business considered by the Committee are given below. Primary LegislationCaravans Bill The Caravans Bill is a Private Members Bill which is intended to introduce statutory provisions similar to those which already exist in Great Britain, for those who occupy a caravan as their main residence on sites which have been approved for that purpose. The Bill also creates protections for caravan owners on seasonal sites by introducing a requirement for written agreements to be in place between site owners and caravan owners. The Committee concluded the Committee Stage and received evidence from 10 key stakeholders including the caravan industry groups; the Department for Social Development; the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; the Committee for the Environment and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The Committee agreed a number of amendments with the Department including a statutory review of the provisions which apply to the residential caravan sector. Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill The Social Development Committee concluded the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill. The Bill introduces a so-called light-touch landlord registration scheme; tenancy deposit guarantee schemes and improved measures to tackle anti-social behaviour. At the Committee’s suggestion amendments were made to the Bill including the introduction of longer notice-to-quit periods for longer term private tenants; increased fines for failure to register a House in Multiple Occupation and consideration of indictable offences by social landlords at the exchange of tenancies. The Committee also accepted Ministerial assurances in respect of a review of the effectiveness of fines and penalties relating to tenancy offences. Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill The Committee concluded the Committee Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill. The Bill introduced a penalty points system for licensed premises and extended police closure powers for alcohol-fueled disorder relating to pubs and registered clubs. The Committee proposed amendments relating to the annual limit on late licenses for registered clubs. As part of the Committee Stage, the Committee also considered provisions relating to the curbing of a wide range of irresponsible drinks promotions. Carer’s Allowance Bill The Committee considered evidence relating to the Private Members Bill – the Carer’s Allowance Bill. The Bill was designed to introduce changes to the assessment of Carer’s Allowance so as to ensure that pensioner carers received additional financial support. The 2 nd stage of the Bill was not moved until 8 February 2011 – consequently the Committee felt that there was insufficient time to conclude a robust review of all of the issues associated with the Bill. The Committee agreed to take and publish as much relevant evidence as possible so as to inform the 2 nd Stage of the Bill should it be re-introduced in the next mandate. Subordinate LegislationThe Committee considered 49 proposed statutory rules. Most statutory rules are associated with social security, pensions and child maintenance. A majority of Committee Members agreed that these statutory rules could not be amended without endangering the benefit to Northern Ireland claimants of parity between the social security, pensions and child maintenance systems in this jurisdiction and Great Britain. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee sought extensive additional information and briefings from officials and other stakeholders where appropriate. As a consequence of Committee’s scrutiny, the provision of National Insurance Starting Credits for Bereavement Allowances is to be maintained throughout the whole of the UK – thus ensuring that young bereaved claimants maintain entitlement to bereavement benefits. The Committee considered 45 statutory rules that were laid in the Assembly. Budget ScrutinyThe Committee considered the Department’s draft Budget 2011-15 consultation document. To facilitate an appropriate engagement with stakeholders the Committee arranged a call for evidence event with the Northern Ireland Commission for Voluntary Action. This included contributions from around 50 voluntary and community groups. The report on the event informed the Committee’s review and subsequent report on the budget. The Committee also sought additional views from other organisations and information from the Department. The Committee considered the funding and governance arrangements for Housing Associations and their contribution to the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP). The Committee noted the important contribution that its research on Housing Association gearing in Northern Ireland played in the ensuing discussions on the SHDP. Owing to the absence of detailed responses from the Department, the Committee was unable to make definitive comments in respect of the draft budget. Policy ScrutinyThe Committee has considered evidence and deliberated on a wide range of issues. Housing and homelessness The Committee considered the performance of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the implementation of key policies including the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) and the Supporting People Programme. In respect of the SHDP, the Committee considered at length the appropriateness of the Strategic Guidelines which determine how new social housing is allocated across communities in Northern Ireland. In respect of the Supporting People Programme the Committee reviewed the relevant Departmental policy evaluation and sought evidence from Supporting People providers. The Committee made recommendations for the review of the Supporting People Strategy. The Committee considered the Gateway review of the procurement of Egan contracts by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and an audit of general governance arrangements in NIHE. The Committee was greatly concerned by the findings of both reports. In the last meetings of the last session, the Committee also considered the Department’s wide-ranging review of the Housing Executive. The Committee recommended further review of the Housing Executive’s role as the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland. Benefits and poverty The Committee committed a great deal of its time to the consideration of welfare issues and their impact on the alleviation of poverty. The Committee reviewed significant pieces of Westminster legislation relating to: the introduction of Universal Credit; the reform of Disability Living Allowance; changes to Housing Benefit and the reform of Child Maintenance. The Committee has developed an extensive body of evidence which it is anticipated will inform the understanding of the Social Development Committee in the next mandate. In respect of the many and wide-ranging reforms proposed by the Westminster government for Welfare and Child Maintenance, a key consideration of the Committee has been the issue of parity. Urban Regeneration and Community Development As part of its consideration of Community Development issues, the Committee took evidence on the operation of the Regional Infrastructure Programme; the Advice Centre Strategy and the concordat between the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and the Government. EngagementDuring 2010-11, the Committee’s extensive legislative programme limited its involvement in engagement activities. Seminars At the Committee’s request, Assembly Research and the Chartered Institute of Housing arranged a seminar involving experts in the financing of social and affordable housing. This low cost event was designed to inform the Committee’s understanding. Members also attended a conference arranged at the Committee’s request by National Energy Action. The conference involved experts and evidence relating to the revised Fuel Poverty Strategy. As above, this low cost innovative approach to evidence –gathering formed an important part of the Committee’s outreach strategy for the session. Informal Receptions The Committee organised an informal reception for stakeholders in the Long Gallery on 10 February 2011. The event was attended by representatives of Citizens Advice Bureau; Disability Action, Mencap; Volunteer Now; NILGA and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. VisitsThe Committee undertook the following visits: 24 February 2011 Welcome Organisation, Belfast. Fact-finding visit to inform the Committee’s review of homelessness issues. 10 March 2011 Newry Flagship Centre – Committee meeting in Newry and visit to the Community Development Networks Forum Meetings outside Parliament BuildingsThe Committee undertook the following meetings outside of Parliament Buildings: 10 March 2011 Newry Flagship Centre Photographs of engagement activities conducted by the Committee are appended.
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