MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON TUESDAY, 14 JUNE 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
4. Urban Renewal Strategy
5. Housing Inquiry
6. 2002/03 Departmental Bids
7. Housing - Paper on Registered Housing Associations
8. Securitisation
9. Promoting Social Inclusion - Consultation Document
10. After Schools Project
11. Dairy Farm Centre
12. Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance
13. Social Security Fraud Bill
14. Any Other Business
15. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Mr J Tierney
Mr D O'Connor
Mr S Wilson
Mr B Hutchinson
Apologies:
Mr E O'Neill
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.24 p.m.
Declaration of Interest
Following the recent elections, the Chairman invited Members to declare any Interests; none were declared.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
There were no matters arising.
3. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
The Committee passed the following Motion subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report:
"The Social Development Committee has considered the following Statutory Rules;
SR 2001 No. 213 - The Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,
SR 2001 No. 214 - The Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) (Transitional and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,
SR 2001 No. 215 - The Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals and Discretionary Financial Assistance) (Consequential Amendments and Revocations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,
SR 2001 No. 216 - The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, and
SR 2001 No. 219 - The Income Support (General) (Standard Interest Rate Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,
and has no objection to the Rules."
The Chairman welcomed the Departmental Officials to the meeting at 2.39 p.m.
In attendance: Mr John Hunter (Permanent Secretary)
Dr Jeremy Harbison
Mr Mike Thompson
The presentation was recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 3.39 p.m.
In the light of references to the Noble Index, the Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Finance and Personnel Committee asking for an assurance that Statutory Committees would be consulted before it was introduced as the basis for identifying areas of deprivation.
The Committee decided to defer consideration of the draft Report until 21 June and noted that this would result in a delay in publication. The Committee agreed that further discussion might be required at meetings between 21 June and 5 July.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department once again and request details in advance of next week's meeting of the Department's bids for the financial year 2001/02, the Department's comparative allocation in the 2001/02 Budget, and the Department's subsequent bids for the financial year 2002/03.
7. Housing - Paper on Registered Housing Associations
The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 16 May and agreed to a presentation from the Department on the role of Housing Associations and the mechanisms that the Department has in place for overseeing and regulating them.
The Committee noted the Research paper on Securitisation.
9. Promoting Social Inclusion - Consultation Document
After discussion, the Committee agreed to commission the Assembly Researchers to produce a paper on what research has been carried out in relation to PSI, the implications of such research and which areas have been identified as areas of social need. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should write to the New TSN Unit asking for an extension to the consultation deadline due to the summer recess.
The Minister's letter of 16 May 2001 was noted. The Committee considered that the Department had previously acknowledged that it had a role to play in the provision of After School care but accepted that the primary responsibility rested with the Department of Education. In reflecting on the earlier presentation on proposals for a new Urban Renewal Strategy which would focus on people, jobs, services and infrastructure, the Committee concluded that there appeared to be scope for the Department continuing to contribute towards After School Initiatives. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to establish what funding it had given for After Schools' Initiatives and why this was no longer available. The Clerk was also asked to establish the criteria for such funding and whether this criteria has been changed.
The Committee noted the Minister's response of 18 May 2001 and agreed that the Clerk should write to Councillor Ferguson advising that the Committee is content with the Department's explanation surrounding the sale of the Dairy Farm complex and in particular with the inclusion of covenants ensuring that the premises will be used for the purpose of community economic regeneration.
12. Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance
The Committee noted the content of the response from the Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency, and agreed that the Clerk would write to Ms Nelis enclosing a copy of the Chief Executive's response.
13. Social Security Fraud Bill
In the light of the Committee understanding that the Minister may be requesting accelerated passage on this Bill, the Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department establishing circumstances surrounding the progress of the corresponding GB Bill and the reasons for requesting accelerated passage, and that this information should be provided in advance any debate for 'accelerated passage'.
(i) Regional Development Strategy
The Committee noted the letter of 7 June 2001 from the Minister for Regional Development and noted that the Clerk had written to Clerk of the Regional Development Committee seeking clarification on the removal of the 40% target on urban housing.
(ii) Bids for Additional Resources
The Committee noted Mr Davis' letter of 11 June 2001.
(iii) Seminars on Government Finances
The Committee noted that the half-day seminars on Government Finances would take place on 6 September 2001 and 12 September 2001.
15. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 21 June 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
JUNE 2001
21 May 2001 / Menu / 25 June 2001