MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 17 MAY 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
4. Social Security Fraud Bill
5. Memorandum on the Proposed Housing Bill
6. Supporting People in Northern Ireland
7. Any Other Business
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain(Chairman)
Sir John Gorman
Mr T Hamilton
Mr G Kelly
Mr E ONeill
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr D Martin
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson),
Mr D O'Connor,
Mr M Robinson
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.05pm.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
The Committee, after discussion, agreed to meet on Monday 21 May at 1.00pm when Mr Paddy Gray the Specialist Adviser in relation to the Housing Inquiry will outline his initial views on key issues relating to the inquiry.
3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for a Statutory Rule in respect of the following - The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No.4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(subject to the Examiners Report).
Those in attendance:-
Maurice Morrow - Minister for Social Development
Mr John ONeill
Mr David McCurry
The Chairman welcomed the Minister and representatives to the meeting at 2.15pm after which the Minister made an initial statement. There followed a question-and answer session, which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left at 3.30pm.
Public Session
5. Memorandum on the Proposed Housing Bill
The Committee noted the content of the draft memorandum of the Housing Bill and agreed that the Committee should complete its report on Housing and then ask officials to attend a meeting before the summer recess to discuss the memorandum.
6. Supporting People in Northern Ireland
The Committee noted the content of the consultation paper and agreed that the Clerk should commission research and draft a response for consideration at the meeting scheduled for 14 June.
Private Session
The Committee noted the Confirmatory Statutory Rules being moved by the Minister for Social Development on 21 May.
The Committee noted the content of the letter, tabled by the Clerk, from the Minister for Regional Development to the Chairman of the Regional Development Committee in relation to the draft regional development strategy. The Committee agreed that the
Clerk should draft a letter to the Minister for Regional Development, for consideration at its next meeting, expressing concern about whether some of the Committee's concerns in relation to the draft regional development strategy have been satisfactorily addressed. It was further agreed that the Minister should specifically be asked to clarify his views on "brownfield" development targets.
The Committee noted the invite from the Minister for Social Development to a reception in the Long Gallery on Wednesday 23 May launching the Department's new A-Z Guide of Public Service for Pensioners.
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 1.00pm on Monday 21 May 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
MAY 2001
10 May 2001 / Menu / 21 May 2001