COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Annual Report 2008-09
MEMBERSHIP AND POWERS
The 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:
- consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
- consider relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of primary legislation;
- call for persons and papers;
- initiate inquires and make reports; and
- consider and advise on any matters brought to the Committee by the Minister for Social Development.
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:
Mr Simon Hamilton (Chairperson) 2,5
Mr David Hilditch (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mrs Mary Bradley 4
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr Fra McCann
Mr Billy Armstrong 3
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 1
Mr Jonathan Craig
Miss Michelle McIlveen
Ms Anna Lo
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 replaced Mr Gregory Campbell MP 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 as Chairperson of the Social Development Committee.
Annual Report 2008-09
During the period 1 September 2008 until 31 August 2009, the Social Development Committee completed a substantial work programme including 32 meetings – 15 of these were fully in public; 17 were partially in private session. Meetings were undertaken partially in private session usually to consider draft versions of Committee reports.
Details of the key items of business considered by the Committee are detailed below.
Primary Legislation
Pensions (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Minister for Social Development sought accelerated passage for legislation relating to the further reform of occupational pensions. The Pensions (No.2) Act included provisions which require employers to automatically enrol employees in occupational pensions. The Act also enhances the role of the Pensions Regulator. As part of its considerations, the Committee sought and received evidence from a number of stakeholders including the Pensions Advisory Service. The Committee supported the Minister’s request for accelerated passage.
Housing (Amendment) Bill
The Housing (Amendment) Bill includes provisions to require the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to produce a policy and supporting advice in respect of combating homelessness and to publish policies relating to anti-social behaviour. The Bill also includes amendments to the definition of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). To inform Members’ understanding of the principles of the Bill, briefings were received from the Department and other key stakeholders. The Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill commenced on 23 June 2009. Further evidence sessions are planned for the autumn.
The Social Development Committee undertook pre-legislative consultations in relation to the Housing (Amendment) Bill and the Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered 73 proposed statutory rules. Additional information and briefings from officials and other stakeholders were sought as appropriate. Most statutory rules are associated with the social security, pensions and child maintenance benefits systems and due to parity considerations are the same as in other parts of the United Kingdom. The Committee agreed with the Department that a statutory rule relating to registered rents would be withdrawn following the Committee’s concerns in relation to rent increases for tenancies described as unfit. In response to Committee concerns, the Department also amended aspects of a statutory rule relating to the compliance regime affecting lone parents in receipt of certain benefits.
The Committee considered 76 statutory rules that were laid in the Assembly.
The Committee considered 3 Westminster Statutory Instruments.
The Committee noted Commencement Orders relating to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the Pensions (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 etc.
The Committee also considered a Legislative Consent Motion relating to the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill.
Inquiries / Reports
Report on the Committee for Social Development’s Consideration of the Administration of Disability Living Allowance
The Committee’s report on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) focused on administration issues including data collection; the DLA claim form; the role of General Practitioners and Examining Medical Officers and the governance and oversight of the appeals process. The report was debated on 20 October 2008 and the Departmental response was considered at the Committee meeting of 15 January 2009. The Committee produced a formal reply and noted that a number of the report’s recommendations including simplification of the application form and further analysis and review of DLA data by the Department were to be adopted.
Report on the Consultation on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
The Committee’s report on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy was based on a consultation undertaken in 2007-08 with Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships throughout Northern Ireland. The report included recommendations relating to: the development of area-specific deprivation targets; the enhanced commitment of other funding departments through the ring-fencing of budgets; the consideration of alternative governance arrangements and the re-categorisation of some Neighbourhood Renewal projects. The report was approved by the Assembly on 2 March 2009. The Departmental response is to be considered by the Committee in November 2009. The Committee agreed that it would consider the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy again following the Department’s planned review. To inform the Committee’s deliberations, a fact-finding visit to community planning partnerships in Edinburgh and Glasgow was undertaken.
Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration
The Committee began consideration of Town Centre Regeneration in November 2007. Owing to the large number of stakeholders and Committee legislative commitments, the evidence sessions for the inquiry were not concluded until May 2009. The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry were as follows:
- Assessment of the scope and effectiveness of the programmes and policies adopted by the Department for Social Development to regenerate town centres;
- Identification of areas where the application of regeneration funding has failed to address disadvantage and poverty;
- Consideration of the nature and effectiveness of engagement with local communities and other key stakeholders when developing and taking forward regeneration initiatives; and
- Identification and consideration of relevant experience elsewhere in terms of the effectiveness of policy interventions.
The Committee undertook a fact-finding visit to Boston and Providence USA in October 2008 to review town centre management partnerships. The Committee considered a draft version of the report on 2 July 2009. It is anticipated that the report will be debated in the Assembly in September 2009.
Budget Scrutiny
The Committee considered and endorsed aspects of the Department’s budgetary submissions made as part of the monitoring round process. The Committee also reviewed the Department’s submission to the Strategic Stocktake. Evidence was obtained from Departmental officials in support of the Committee’s deliberations.
The Committee Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson reflected the views of the Committee during the relevant budget debates.
Policy Scrutiny
The Committee has considered evidence and produced formal responses on a wide range of issues.
Supporting People
The Committee received evidence from a number of stakeholder organisations including Shelter NI, Triangle Housing Association, Womens Aid, Fold Housing Association and the Simon Community in relation to the budget for the Supporting People programme and the challenges presented by the Bamford Review. The Committee made recommendations to the Minister particularly in relation to the so-called freezing of the budget for 2008-11 and is to again consider the Supporting People programme in the next session.
Local Housing Allowance
The Committee considered a significant amount of evidence in relation to the introduction of Local Housing Allowance (LHA). Detailed quarterly reports were provided by the Department and responses on the impact of this change to Housing Benefit were obtained from stakeholders including the Housing Rights Service. The Committee has indicated its concerns in respect of the impact of the introduction of LHA on certain groups in receipt of the Shared Room Rate – particularly the disabled and those under-25s living in areas with limited accommodation choice. It is anticipated that the Committee will give further consideration to LHA following the current DWP consultation and the anticipated UK-wide review of Housing Benefit in the autumn.
House Sales Scheme / Mortgage Rescue Scheme
The Committee made formal submissions to the consultations on the amended House Sales Scheme (for social housing) and the proposed Mortgage Rescue Scheme. The Committee generally welcomed both policies.
Social Fund (and Funeral Payments)
The Committee made a formal submission to the Department for Work and Pensions consultation on proposed amendments to the Social Fund. The Committee strongly opposed changes to the Fund which could have replaced interest-free crisis payment with loans charged at over 20% APR. This element of the proposals was subsequently withdrawn.
Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency
The Committee considered representations from the Department and NIPSA in relation to the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency. In view of the worsening economic circumstances, the Committee unanimously indicated its opposition to the Department’s initial proposals which involved the relocation, over long distances, of a large number of SSA staff. The Committee generally welcomed the Department’s revised proposals which included a pilot period and the development of SSA hubs in each of the new council areas.
Warm Homes Scheme
Following the Public Accounts Committee report, the Committee scrutinized the Department’s progress in amending the Warm Homes Scheme and targeting its benefits at the fuel poor.
Other Policies
The Committee has also received evidence and continues to consider the following policies and projects: the Reform of Public Administration (as it relates to the functions of the Department); the Crumlin Road Gaol / Girdwood Park regeneration project; the Belfast Strategic Regeneration Frameworks; the reform of the Private Rented Sector; the Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland; the Voluntary Advice Strategy for Northern Ireland; the options for funding social housing and possible revisions to the Compact between Government and the Voluntary and Community sector.
Engagement
During 2008-09, the Committee undertook a range of activities to enable interested organisations and groups to engage with the Committee:
Informal Receptions
The Committee organised an informal reception for stakeholders in the Long Gallery on 2 October 2008. The event was attended by representatives of the Citizens Advice Bureau, NIPSA, Climate Change Coalition, Healthy Living Centres, North West Centre for Learning, Triangle Housing Association and West Belfast Partnership. This event was followed by a number of briefing sessions which informed the Committee’s understanding on issues such as the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency, the Supporting People Programme and proposed changes to the Social Fund.
Informal Meetings
| 1 September 2008 | Chairperson met with Developers to discuss Developers contributions. |
| 15 June 2009 | Chairperson, Committee Members (and Members of the Committee for Employment and Learning) met with Jim Knight, the Minister for Work and Pensions to discuss the Welfare Reform Bill. |
| 29 July 2009 | Chairperson and Committee Members met with Lord Best and the Commission for the Future of Housing in Northern Ireland. |
| 26 August 2009 | Chairperson met with the Directors of the Resource, Housing and Social Security Group within the Department for Social Development to discuss the legislative programme and budget issues. |
| 28 August 2009 | Chairperson met with the Directors of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to discuss budget issues |
Long Gallery Events
Members of the Committee sponsored the following Long Gallery event:
| 2 July 2009 | Shared Surface Streets hosted by Guide Dogs for the Blind |
The following Long Gallery events were co-sponsored by Members of the Social Development Committee and Members of other Committees:
| 1 December 2008 | Fuel Poverty and Children hosted by Save the Children |
| 22 January 2009 | Cancer Poverty hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support |
Visits
The Committee undertook the following visits:
| 5-9 October 2008 | Boston Massachusetts and Providence Rhode Island, USA. Fact-finding visit to inform the Committee’s inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration and obtain evidence on the Boston Mains Streets programme. |
| 16 October 2008 | Strabane. Visit to the Iconic Bridges project which is part of the Strabane 2000 programme. |
| 8 January 2009 | Eco-village, Lisburn. Visit to the Eco-village in Lisburn to inform Members’ understanding of eco-friendly district heating schemes. |
| 19 February 2009 | Jobs and Benefits Offices in Belfast. Visit to the Belfast Benefit Delivery Centre and Holywood Road Job Centre to inform Members’ understanding of issues relating to the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency. |
| 18-19 June 2009 | Edinburgh / Glasgow community planning partnerships. Visit to community planning partnerships in Edinburgh and Glasgow to review next steps for the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. Visit to the Scottish Parliament |
Meetings outside Parliament Buildings
The Committee undertook the following meetings outside of Parliament Buildings:
| 16 October 2008 | Strabane District Council building, Strabane, County Tyrone |
| 7 May 2009 | Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, County Down |
Photographs of engagement activities conducted by the Committee are included at Annex B.
Committee Motions
The Committee proposed a motion which was agreed by the Assembly on 22 June 2009 which called upon the Minister to increase the budget allocation for the Decent Homes programme and to improve communications between the Department and the Egan contractors.
Following the June Monitoring Round, additional support was allocated to the Decent Homes Programme.
Key Priorities for Next Session
The Committee’s priorities for the next session will be focused on the legislative programme.
After the Committee concludes the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill, the Welfare Reform Bill is expected to be considered. It is understood that, subject to Executive approval, the Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill will be introduced in September and may be in Committee Stage before Christmas 2009. It is also anticipated that the Committee will have some role in the review of Private Members legislation – the Caravan and Mobile Home Owners Bill. These bills and the anticipated Private Rented Sector Bill and RPA Bill will, it is anticipated, restrict the Committee’s scope for further large-scale inquiries in 2009-10.
ANNEX A
Committee for Social Development
Expenditure for the period 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009
| Budget area |
Details |
Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Committee Travel - Committee Members and staff travel and subsistence in relation to visits and meetings outside Parliament Buildings | Includes the cost of Committee visits to:
| £31,881 |
| Printing of Committee reports | Includes the cost of Committee reports on:
| £3,573 |
| Advertising – the cost of public notices relating to Committee inquiries, the Committee Stage of bills and meetings held outside Parliament Buildings | Includes the cost of public notices in relation to:
| £3761 |
| General expenses | Cost of refreshments for Committee meetings, working lunches, seminars, room hire and witness expenses | £2,223 |
| Total = £41,438 |
ANNEX B
Committee for Social Development
Photographs of Committee Engagement Activities
Chair of the Social Development Committee, Mr David Simpson, attending an awareness raising event hosted by MacMillan Cancer Support in the Long Gallery.
