MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 29 MARCH 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Investing for Health
4. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
5. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
6. Housing
7. Any Other Business
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr M Robinson
Mr S Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Introduction: The Committee were introduced to Damian Martin who will be providing cover during the Clerk's absence in Canada in May and therefore will be attending Committee meetings over the coming weeks.
Apologies: Mr T Hamilton, Mr B Hutchinson, Mr E ONeill, Mr J Tierney
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.20pm.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister in support of the issues raised in the Report of the Bogside and Brandywell Initiative/Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership emphasising that the difficulties highlighted in the Report could equally apply to all parts of L/Derry.
3. Investing For Health
In attendance: Sinead Kerin (Researcher)
The Chairman welcomed the Researcher to the meeting at 2.25 pm after which she made a presentation. A summary of the presentation was circulated to the Members. After discussion the Committee agreed to note its content and the Chairman thanked the Researcher for her presentation and she left at 2.35pm.
Public Session
Department Officials in attendance: Dr Jeremy Harbinson
Michael Bloomfield
The Chairman welcomed the officials to the meeting at 2.35pm after which they made a presentation. A summary of the presentation was circulated to the Members. A question and answer session followed which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left at 3.23pm.
Private Session
Following discussion the Committee agreed that the clerk should draft a response to the Department in relation to the Investment For Health document and that the Committee would consider it at a subsequent meeting to meet the deadline for response of 31 May.
4. 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 (Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (subject to the Examiner's report).
Departmental Officials: John O'Neill - Social Security Legislation Branch
Scott Carson - Social Security Legislation Branch
The Chairman welcomed the above-named officials to the meeting at 3.40p.m. and they briefed the Committee on the rationale for and implications of the proposed Statutory Rules.
Agreed: Following clarification the Committee was content with the Department' proposals outlined in respect of the following - Payment to the Families of the 'Disappeared', The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
The Committee agreed to invite Training & Employment Agency officials to make a presentation to the Committee in relation to the 'ONE' service. The Committee further agreed to consider the possibility of visiting the Dungannon office , where the 'ONE' service is being piloted, on its planned visit to the west of the province.
5. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
The Committee passed the following motion:
"The Social Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 2001 No.105 - The Income Support (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No. 106 - The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule No.107 - The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutoory Rule 2001 No. 102 - The Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No.78 - The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, Statutory Rule 2001 No. 99 - The Housing Benefit (Extended Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and Statutory Rule 2001 No.100 - The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objections to the Rules." (subject to the Examiner's report).
6. Housing - Private Sector Renewal and Houses in Multiple Occupation (Regulation of the Private Rented Sector)
In attendance: Eileen Regan (Researcher)
Malachy Finnegan (Researcher)
The Chairman welcomed the Researchers to the meeting at 4.00 pm after which Eileen Regan made a presentation. A summary of the presentation was circulated to the Members. After discussion the Committee agreed to consider the Research papers further at its next meeting, on Tuesday 3 April, if necessary, and the Researchers were asked to be in attendance. The Chairman thanked the Researchers and they left at 4.15pm.
7. Any Other Business
The Committee noted the content of previous correspondence and the letter from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee in relation to Executive Programme Funds. The Committee agreed that the Chairman should speak in the plenary debate in relation to Executive Programme Funds on 2 April on behalf of the Committee expressing concern that the Committee was not given sufficient time or an opportunity to influence bids.
The Committee noted that the Clerk intends to include a forward programme of business with the weekly papers.
The Committee noted that the Chairman had been asked to speak on the subject of 'Homelessness' at a Simon Community event in the Long Gallery sponsored by Alisdair McDonnell on 24 April. The Chairman intends to say that the Committee is keenly interested in this whole area and that it plans to Report on the subject later in the year.
The Committee noted the content of the letter from the Minister in relation to DEES II / Warm Homes and agreed to consider it further at next weeks meeting before responding.
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 05 April 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
March 2001
22 March 2001 / Menu / 5 April 2001