MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM ON THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2002.

Present:

Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr E ONeill
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
Mr G Kelly

Apologies: Sir J Gorman
Mr D O'Connor
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr T Hamilton Mr M Robinson

In Attendance:

Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Mrs Janette Anderson
Miss F Douglas Miss A Montgomery

Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.14 p.m.

Public Session

1. Housing Inquiry (Homelessness) Oral Evidence By Simon Community Northern Ireland

The Chairman welcomed representatives from Simon Community Northern Ireland to the meeting at 2.15 p.m.

In attendance:

Carol O'Bryan - Chief Executive

Fiona Boyle - Director of Research & Development

Mr Fergal Lynn - Director of Accommodation & Resettlement

The representatives from Simon Community Northern Ireland made a presentation to the Committee and a question and answer session followed.

The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

The Chairperson thanked the members of the Simon Community Northern Ireland and they left at 3.15 p.m.

Private Session

2. Arrangements for Seminar on Housing Bill and Spending Review

The Chairman welcomed Mr Hunter, Permanent Secretary who made a brief presentation and outlined the programme for the informal seminar, to be held in the Private Members' Dining Room on 7 March. Members agreed not to schedule a Committee meeting for that day and the Clerk was asked to liase with the Department on the arrangements.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February and 26 February

The minutes of the meetings were agreed.

4. Matters Arising

Northern Ireland Region of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters
Members noted the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters will present to the Committee on Thursday 14 March.

5. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposal to make a Statutory Rule in respect of the following: -

The Social Security (Amendment) (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Contracting - Out) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Social Security (Loss of Benefit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2002.

The Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

6. The Registration of Clubs (Accounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

The Committee discussed the comparison between the Accounts Regulations and the Companies Order provided by the Department.
The Clerk was asked to copy the Department's response to the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs to obtain their further views.

7. Any Other Business

West Belfast Economic Taskforces
The Committee noted the letter from the Minister concerning the West Belfast Economic Taskforces.

Travelling People: Monagh Wood Scheme
The Members discussed the report on the Travelling People: Monagh Wood Scheme issued by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland.
The Committee agreed the Chairman should write to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee drawing attention to the fact that the Department of the Environment as well as the Department for Social Development should be invited to comment on the Report.

Bids for Additional Resources: February Monitoring 2001 - 02
The Committee noted a letter from the Department, dated 22 February, advising of the bids and reduced requirements and again expressed concern about the absence of arrangements which would enable receipts to be retained.

Parents And Professionals Autism (PAPA)
Members noted a letter from the director of Parents And Professionals Autism, dated 15 February, offering the Committee an informal briefing concerning a report due to be published in the spring by the Task Force on Autism.
The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Chairman of the Education Committee to suggest that if the Parents And Professionals Autism were making a presentation to that Committee other interested Members might be invited to attend.

8. Date of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday 5 March in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

Mr F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
FEBRUARY 2002

26 February 2002 / Menu / 5 March 2002