MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF
THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2000
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation
4. Street Trading Bill - Committee Stage
5. Any Other Business
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Sir John Gorman
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr G Martin
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Ms E Regan
Apologies:
Mr G Kelly, Mr D McClarty, Mr D O'Connor, Mr E O'Neill
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.17pm.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
3. Subordinate Legislation
(i) Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order and The Social Security (Disclosure of State Pension Information) Regulations.
(ii) Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's urgent proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Social Security (New Deal Pilot) Regulations.
The Committee understood that the corresponding Great Britain Regulations are expected to be made on 24 November and to come into force on 28 November. In keeping with the principle of parity in social security matters the Department planned to make the Northern Ireland Regulations on 27 November and to bring them into operation on 28 November. The Committee further understood that to meet this timescale the Department were unable to submit proposals to the committee before making. Copies of the Regulations together with an Explanatory Memorandum will however be submitted to the committee at the same time as the Regulations are sent to the Assembly Office for laying. Ms Gildernew, whilst appreciating the Department's written explanation, wished her opposition to the principle of the Regulations be placed on record.
Mr M Robinson joined the meeting at 2.27pm.
Public Session
4. Street Trading Bill - Committee Stage
The Chairman welcomed the officials to the meeting at 2.28pm.
DSD Officials: Mr Gordon Gibson
Mr Ivan McMaster
The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.
Clause 3 - after discussion the committee agreed to take legal advice and to consider this clause again in more depth at the next meeting.
Mr J Tierney left the meeting at 2.52pm.
Clause 5 - after discussion the Committee could not unanimously agree the clause so the Chairman called for a vote to be taken. A motion was proposed by Sir J Gorman and seconded by Mr S Wilson that the Committee agree that Clause 5 should stand as part of the Bill. The motion was carried by 4 votes to 1.
Mr J Tierney returned to the meeting at 3.02pm
Clause 9 - after discussion the Committee agreed to take legal advice and to consider this clause in more depth at the next meeting.
Clause 10 - the Committee agreed that it should stand as part of the Bill.
Clause 12 - the Committee agreed that it should stand as part of the Bill.
Mr M Robinson left the meeting at 3.15pm.
Clause15 - after discussion the Committee agreed to take legal advice and to consider this clause in more depth at the next meeting.
Mr M Robinson returned to the meeting at 3.25pm
Clause 18 - after discussion the Committee agreed to take legal advice and to consider this clause in more depth at the next meeting.
The Chairman requested that the officials consider the issues of concern raised by the Committee and that they return next week to enable the Committee to consider them further. The chairman thanked the officials and they left at 3.47pm.
Private Session
5. Any Other Business
(i) The Committee agreed to representatives of the Housing Executive and the Low Pay unit attending next week's meeting and to the Council for Mortgage Lenders attending on 7 December 2000.
(ii) The Committee agreed that Ms E Regan (Senior Researcher) would consider the implications of the Pension Credit Consultation Paper and report back to the Committee, in due course, to enable the Committee to consider a response by 28 February 2001.
(iii) The Committee agreed to consider a paper circulated by Sir John Gorman on Planning and Affordable Housing at some future date.
(iv) The Committee agreed to consider a formal response to the Draft Programme For Government at next week's meeting.
(v) The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department asking when the Housing Bill is likely to be made available to the Committee and in what form.
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 30 November 2000 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
November 2000