MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT
2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 07 DECEMBER 2000
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation
4. Subordinate Legislation
5. Proposed Housing Bill
6. Presentation by the Low Pay Unit
7. Street Trading Bill - Committee Stage
8. Any Other Business
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Sir John Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr G Kelly
Mr D O'Connor
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
In Attendance:
Mr G Martin
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr E ONeill
Mr S Wilson
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.15pm
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
The Committee expressed its deep concern that the Department had not yet been able to respond to two written requests by the Clerk asking when the Housing Bill is likely to be made available to the committee and in what form.
The Committee considered the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Sick Pay (General ) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Maintenance Calculation Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Maintenance and Special Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Variations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure and Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2000), The Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Temporary Compensation Payment Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support, (Voluntary Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Child Support (Variations) (Modification of Statutory Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Social Security (Child Maintenance Premium and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
The Committee agreed that they wished to consider the Statutory Rules in more depth and asked the Clerk to arrange for Departmental officials to be in attendance at the next meeting scheduled for 14 December.
The Committee passed the following motion:
The Social Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule
SR 2000 No 336 - The Pension Sharing (Contracting-out) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, and Statutory Rule 2000 No.335 - The Pension Sharing (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, and has expressed no objection to the Rules.
Public Session
5. Proposed Housing Bill - Presentation by Representatives of the Council for Mortgage Lenders
Those in attendance: Mr Donal Delahunt - Chairman CML NI
Mr Dan Corr - Committee Member
Mr Trevor James - Committee Member
Mr Andrew Heywood - Secretary
The Chairman welcomed the CML representatives to the meeting at 2.30pm. After which the Secretary gave an opening statement which was circulated to the members. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the CML representatives and they left at 3.13pm.
6. Presentation by the Low Pay Unit in relation to the implications of any increase in Northern Ireland Housing Executive rents.
Those in attendance: Mr Jim McCracken
The Chairman welcomed Mr McCracken to the meeting at 3.15pm.
By means of an introduction the Chairman advised Mr McCracken that the Committee were concerned about the effects of the proposed NIHE rent increase on tenants on low incomes after which Mr McCracken gave an opening statement which was circulated to the members. There followed a question-and answer session, which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked Mr McCracken and he left at 3.35pm.
Mr G Kelly and Mr B Hutchinson joined the meeting at 3.22pm.
Mr D O'Connor left the meeting at 3.35pm
Mr J Tierney left the meeting at 3.40pm
7. Street Trading Bill - Committee Stage
The Chairman welcomed the Assembly Legal Adviser to the meeting at 3.40pm.
Legal Adviser: Imelda McAuley
The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.
Clause 15 - following receipt of legal advice the Committee agreed that it should stand as part of the Bill.
Clause 9 - Following receipt of legal advice the Committee agreed to include in its report to the Assembly the following amendment;
Clause 9, Page 6, Line 36
leave out 'or'
Clause 9, Page 6, line 40 at the end insert -
'or'
' (iv) there are sufficient traders trading in the street from shops or otherwise in the articles, things or services in which the applicant desires to trade.'
The Chairman thanked the Assembly legal adviser and she left at 3.50pm.
Mr J Tierney and Mr D O'Connor returned to the meeting at 3.50pm.
Private Session
There was no other business.
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 14 December 2000 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
December 2000