Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM ON Thursday 21 MARCH 2002.

Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Mr E ONeill
Mr J Tierney
Mr T Hamilton
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Mr S Wilson
Mr G Kelly

Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Sir J Gorman
Mr D O'Connor

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

Private Session

Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.13 p.m.

  1. Minutes of the meetings held on 5th, 7th, 12th, and 14th March.
    2.

    The minutes of the meetings were agreed

  2. Social Development Committee Forward Plan of Business.
    3.

    The Members noted the Forward Plan of Business. It was agreed that an update would be included in the Committee papers on a weekly basis. The Clerk was asked to prepare a paper on the Committee's priorities for consideration at the meeting on 11 April.

    Public Session

  3. Housing Support Bill.
    4.

    The Chairman welcomed the Minister and his Departmental Officials to the meeting at 2.27 p.m.

    In attendance:
    Mr Nigel Dodds, Minister
    Mr John Hunter
    Mr Jerome Burns
    Ms Dolores Ferran

    Mr M Robinson joined the meeting at 2.43 p.m.

    The Committee discussed with the Minister and officials, the Housing Support Bill. The discussion was recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.
  4. Laganside Corporation: Quinquennial Review.
    5.

    In attendance:
    Mr Nigel Dodds, Minister
    Mr John Hunter
    Mr Mike Thompson

    The Committee discussed with the Minister and officials, the arrangements for appointments to the Laganside Corporation and the associated Quinquennial Review. The discussion was recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.
  5. Parity Principle.
    6.

    In attendance:
    Mr Nigel Dodds, Minister
    Mr John Hunter
    Mr John O'Neill
    Mr Gerry McCann

    The Committee discussed with the Minister and officials, the Parity Principle. The discussion was recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

    The Committee also discussed with the Minister the Service Delivery Agreement for 2002/2003 and Budget 2002. These discussions were recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

    The Chairman thanked the Minister and Officials and they left at 3.28 p.m.

    Private Session

  6. Parity - Draft Response to the House of Lords Inquiry.
    7.

    The Committee reviewed the Terms of Reference for the Lords Select Committee Inquiry and noted that Oral Evidence sessions would be taken in Northern Ireland in June 2002.

    The Clerk was requested to prepare a draft reply to be reviewed by the Committee at the meeting scheduled for the 11 April.

  7. Subordinate Legislation.

    8. Proposal

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

    The Child Support (Applications: Prescribed Date) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    Motions

    The Committee passed the following Motions subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule's Report:

    "The Social Development Committee has considered the following Statutory Rules:

    SR 2002 No. 67 - The Social Security (Claims and Payments and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Regulations) (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 99 - The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 97 - The Social Fund (Disability Living Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    Note: The Committee noted concerns raised by NIACAB and AIAC about this Rule, but concluded that, since it maintained parity, the Motion should be passed. The Committee asked the Clerk to monitor the progress of the equivalent Rule in Westminster and advise Members accordingly. Members noted the facility to pray against the Rule provided a Motion to that effect is tabled before 7 May.

    SR 2002 No. 86 - The Social Security (Incapacity) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 57 - The Social Security Pensions (Low Earnings Threshold) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 74 - The Occupational Pension Schemes (Winding Up Notices and Reports, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 87 - The Social Security (Guardian's Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 79 - The Social Security (Loss of Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 80 - The Social Security (Loss of Benefit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    SR 2002 No. 90 - The Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

    And has no objection to the Rules."

  8. Review of DSD & SDC Seminar Held on 7 March.
    9.

    The Committee agreed that the format of the Seminar had been successful and should be repeated at a future date to be agreed with the Department.

  9. Committee for Finance and Personnel Inquiry into European Structural Funds and

    10. Community Initiatives.

    The Committee discussed the paper outlining the Committee for Finance and Personnel's current Inquiry into European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.

    The Clerk was asked to draft a response for consideration by the Committee..

  10. Regional Transport Strategy for Northern Ireland.
    11.

    Alison Montgomery, Senior Researcher, presented a research paper on the Regional Transport Strategy.

    The Committee discussed the draft response and requested the Clerk amend the proposed reply to reflect concerns regarding the 'Park and Ride' strategy and the potential for Social Housing areas to be abused by motorists using such areas for parking and to raise the issue of planning policy for parking spaces.

    Mr E ONeill left the meeting at 3.47 p.m.
    Mr G Kelly left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
  11. Consultation Documents on Recommendations in the Myner's Report "Institutional

    12. Investment in the UK: A Review".

    The Committee considered the consultation papers issued by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

    The Clerk was asked to commission research to identify relevant impact on areas of Social Development.

  12. Social Security Agency's Information System.
    13.

    The Chairman referred the Committee to the letter from the Chairman Committee for Employment and Learning highlighting weaknesses in the Social Security Agency's information systems and noted that the letter had been forwarded to the Department for Social Development.

    Members agreed that the correspondence should be referred to the Department for a reply.

  13. Homelessness Research Paper.
    14.

    The Chairman welcomed Patricia Casey, Roisin Kelly and Gary Andrews from the Research Department and asked Alison Montgomery, Senior Researcher to lead on the presentation of the Homelessness Research paper.

    The presentations included:

    of Homelessness.

    The Chairman thanked the Researchers for their presentations and they left at 4.20 p.m. the Committee agreed that the paper be included in the Committee's Report on Homelessness.

    Mr S Wilson left the meeting at 4.20 p.m.
  1. Any Other Business

    2. NIHE Social Development Inquiry - Homelessness

    The Committee noted the letter from Paddy McIntyre Chief Executive NIHE, dated 11 March, which detailed the formal responses received to the NIHE Homelesness Strategy and Services Review Consultation document.

    Members agreed that the correspondence be included in the Committee Report on the Inquiry into Homelessness.

    NIAO Report 'Housing the Homeless'

    The Committee noted the NIAO report and agreed to await the Public Accounts Committee response.

    Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO) Draft Strategy

    The Chairman referred Members to a letter from the Minister, dated 8 March, outlining the results of the consultation process.

    The Committee noted the delay in moving to the consultation phase and that it was anticipated it would now span the 3 month period April to June 2002 with the intention that the results of the consultation be brought to the Committee before the summer recess.

    State Pension Credit Bill

    Members noted the letter from the Department, dated 11 March, providing information on pension credit previously requested by the Committee.

    EAGA Charitable Trust - One Day Conference

    The Committee noted the details of the EAGA one day conference 'Hidden hardships: rural fuel poverty' scheduled for Tuesday 16 April, 09.30 to 4.10 p.m. at the Killyhevlin hotel, Enniskillen and asked the Clerk to respond explaining that Members would be unable to attend.

    Assembly Question for Oral Answer - Future Role of the NIHE

    Members noted the letter from the Minister, dated 15 March, concerning the future role of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

    Departmental Press Releases

    Members noted the Press Release by the Department announcing the establishment in Northen Ireland of a Supporting People Fund to provide vital back-up housing services for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

    The Committee agreed the terms of the Committee's Press Release be issued in support of this important initiative and asked that it be issued prior to Easter.

    The Committee noted the Press Release by the Department announcing that responsibility for child Benefit will transfer from the Social Security Agency to the Inland Revenue on 1 April 2003.

  2. Date of Next Meeting
    3.

    The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 11 April in the Child Support Agency Board Room, Level 13 Great Northern Tower, Great Victoria Street, Belfast.

    Mr F COBAIN
    COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
    MARCH 2002

14 March 2002 / Menu / 11 April 2002