MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
4. Travellers Consultation Paper
5. Housing Inquiry
6. Child Support Agency - Strategic and Business Plan
7. Investing for Health
8. Inquiry into Belfast Harbour Commissioner's Titanic Quarter Leases
9. Defective Premises (Landlord Liability) NIA BILL 5/00
10. Any Other Business
11. 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 E ONeill
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Apologies:
Ms Michelle Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson), Mr M Robinson, Mr J Tierney
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 noted that the letter of clarification from the Law Society following on from their presentation on 5 April is still awaited.
The Committee agreed to consider Housing as agenda Item 5.
3. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
The Committee passed the following motion:
The Social Development Committee has considered the following Statutory Rules; SR 2001 No. 108 - The Social Security (Benefits for Widows and Widowers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 115 - The Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 116 - The Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 117 - The Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 118 - The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Perpetuities and Contracting-out) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, SR 2001 No. 119 - The Stakeholder Pensions Schemes (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, SR 2001 No. 120 - The Social Security (Joint Claims Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 134 - The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 138 - The Occupational Pensions Schemes (Pensions Compensation Provisions) (Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, SR 2001 No. 148 - The Social Security (Widow's Benefit and Retirement Pension) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,SR 2001 No. 150 - The Social Security (Capital Disregards and Recovery from Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, andSR 2001 No. 156 - The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rules (subject to the Examiners Report).
4. Travellers Consultation Paper
In attendance: Sinead Kerin (Researcher)
The Chairman welcomed the Researcher to the meeting at 2.15 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 2.50pm.
The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department offering its broad endorsement to recommendations 1,2, 3, 4 and 33 and that the Committee supports Recommendations 5, 6 and 7 which are considered to be of particular importance. The Committee further agreed that the strategic needs assessment referred to in Recommendation 5 should be time specific.
The Committee noted the research papers tabled in relation to Large Scale Voluntary Transfers and the NIHE and the Rights of Housing Association Tenants to Buy their own Properties and that the Researchers would be speaking to the papers at the extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Tuesday 1 May.
The Committee noted the content of the folder tabled containing the written evidence and synopsis of comments in relation to Private Sector Renewal and Houses of Multiple Occupation and the Private Rented Sector. The Committee further noted that the written evidence and synopsis of comments in relation to Large Scale Voluntary Transfers and the NIHE and the Rights of Housing Association Tenants to Buy would be issued to Members on Friday 27 April. The Committee agreed to study their content in advance of the oral evidence sessions scheduled for Tuesday 1, Thursday 3 and Tuesday 8 May.
6. Child Support Agency - Strategic and Business Plan
The Committee noted the content of the Strategic and Business Plan of the Child Support Agency and agreed it was a useful basis on which to monitor the Agency's performance.
The Committee noted the content of the response drafted by the Clerk and agreed that it should be issued to the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety.
8. Inquiry into Belfast Harbour Commissioner's Titanic Quarter Leases
The Committee noted the content of the response to the Chairman of the Regional Development Committee drafted by the Clerk. The Committee agreed to include at the end of the last sentence the words "and NI as a whole" and agreed that it should be issued.
9. Defective Premises (Landlord Liability) NIA BILL 5/00
The Committee agreed to refer the letter from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee to the Department. The Committee further agreed that the Chairman should arrange to meet the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee to discuss the issue and report back.
The Committee noted the content of the letter in relation to budgets, tabled by the Clerk, from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
The Committee noted that there would be a presentation, jointly sponsored by the DETI and DSD on "The Social Economy" in the Long Gallery on 15 May and that members are invited to attend.
The Committee noted that the Street Trading Bill will come into effect on 1 October 2001.
The Committee noted the content of the letter, tabled by the Clerk, in relation to the terms of a motion on relief for businesses affected by the Foot and Mouth Disease from the Chairs of the Enterprise Trade and Industry and Finance and Personnel Committees.
The Committee noted the content of the letter, tabled by the Clerk, in relation to medical assessments and adjudications for Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance from Mary Nelis MLA. The Committee agreed to refer the letter to the Department and that the Clerk should write to the Department indicating the Committee's support for its content.
The Committee noted the letter, tabled by the Clerk, in relation to Customer Services, Welfare Reform and Modernisation from the Minister. The Committee further noted that officials will make a presentation on the subject at the meeting on 3 May.
The Committee noted the content of the e-mail, tabled by the Clerk, in relation to the future of the retail facilities within the Dairy Farm complex from Councillor Micheal Ferguson. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department for background information and that Council Ferguson should be invited to make a presentation to the Committee in due course.
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 12.00pm on Tuesday 01 May 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
April 2001
5 April 2001 / Menu / 1 May 2001