MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 08 FEBRUARY 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
4. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
5. Public Service Agreement
6. Regeneration of Belfast - Presentation
7. Any Other Business
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Sir John Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr D McClarty
Mr E ONeill
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson),
Mr G Kelly,
Mr D O'Connor
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.10pm.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
The Committee was advised that a reply had just been received from the Department regarding the Committee's queries on DEES II. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should examine the reply and bring proposals for further action to next week's meeting.
The Committee was advised that the press release and letters to consultees relating to the Committee inquiry on proposals for the forthcoming Housing Bill will be ready for issue on 15 February.
The Committee considered the outline programme suggested by the Londonderry Development Officer for the Committee's forthcoming visit to Derry City. Mr J Tierney advised that considerable interest had been expressed in the City about the Committee's visit and a number of community groups wished to make presentations. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should liaise with Mr J Tierney before finalising the programme.
3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and The Jobseeker's Allowance (Joint Claims: Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
4. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
The Committee passed the following motion:
"The Social Development Committee has considered Statutory Rules 2001 No.4 - The Social Security (Capital Disregards Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001, Statutory Rule 2000 No.404 - The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Miscellaneous Amendment), Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2001 No.13 - The Stakeholder Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.12 - The Child Support (Temporary Compensation Payment Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.19 - The Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule No.21- The Child Support (Voluntary Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.22 - The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.23 - The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.24 - The Child Support (Variations) (Modification of Statutory Provisions) (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.15 - The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.16 - The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure and Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.17 - The Child Support (Maintenance Calculation Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.18, The Child Support (Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and Statutory Rule 2001 No.20 - The Child Support (Variations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objections to the Rules."
The Chairman welcomed the officials to the meeting at 2.40pm.
DSD Officials:
Mr John Hunter
Mr Walter Hutchinson
Mr Michael Sands
Mr Brendan Devlin
Mr Jim Johnston
Mr John Johnston
The Department requested that the discussions with the Committee were held in private session as the Public Service Agreement is still only in draft form. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left at 4.08pm.
Public Session
6. Regeneration of Belfast - Presentation by Representatives from the Belfast Metropolitan Resident's Group
Those in attendance:
Mr Peter Carr
Mr Ronnie Small
The Chairman welcomed the representatives to the meeting at 4.10pm after which the representatives made their presentation. A summary of their presentation was circulated to the Members. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left at 4.55pm.
Private Session
There was no other business.
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 15 February 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
February 2001
1 February 2001 / Menu / 15 February 2001