MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM ON THURSDAY 6 JUNE 2002.
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Mr G Kelly (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Sir J Gorman
Mr E ONeill
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew
Mr D O'Connor
Mr T Hamilton
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Miss K Kelly
Miss F Douglas
Miss A Montgomery
Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.17 p.m.
Private Session
- Minutes of the meetings held on the 28 and 30 May.
- Forward Plan of Business
- Homelessness Report - Final Reading
- Subordinate Legislation
- Caring Through The Troubles
- Any Other Business
- Date of Next Meeting
The minutes of the meetings were agreed.
The Committee noted the Forward Plan of Business.
Mr S Wilson joined the meeting at 2.39 p.m.
The Committee conducted a final reading of its Second Report on the Inquiry into Housing in Northern Ireland (Homelessness).
Section 1 agreed.
Section 2 agreed.
Section 3 agreed, subject to the correction of minor typographical errors and the re-wording of Priority needs.
Mr E ONeill joined the meeting at 2.42 p.m.
Mr M Robinson joined the meeting at 2.57 p.m.
Sir J Gorman left the meeting at 3.05 p.m.
Section 4 agreed, subject to the following amendments:
Rewording of Recommendation 2
Removal of Recommendation 3
Removal of 'urgent and' from Recommendation 4
Inclusion of 'individual' in recommendation 7 and explanation for priority need.
Inclusion of 'support' in Recommendation 9 and addition of explanation.
Recommendations 10, 11 and 12 to be amalgamated.
Include 'for the NIHE and partner organisations following 'Code of Practice' last sentence
4.2.
Remove Recommendation 15
Recommendation 16 remove 'and adopt minimum standards' insert 'for those individuals
Dealing with the homeless.
4.4 insert explanation 'in light off'
Recommendation 25 insert explanatory sentence.
Section 5 agreed subject to the inclusion of the text from Recommendation 15 and references to financial resources and political direction.
The Committee further agreed to the inclusion of a series of annexes to the report.
Resolved: That the Draft Report should be ordered for printing, subject to amendments.
Mr M Robinson left the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
Mr M Robinson joined the meeting at 4.10 p.m.
Sir J Gorman joined the meeting at 4.14 p.m.
Proposals
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposal to make Statutory Rules in respect of the following:-
The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security (Intercalating Students Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
Motions
The Chairman welcomed Department Officials Mr John O'Neill and Mr Maurice Byrne to the meeting.
Mr O'Neill explained the amendments which had been added to SR 2002 No. 189. since being before the Committee as a Proposal.
The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 4.17 p.m.
The Committee passed the following Motions subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report:
"The Social Development Committee has considered the following Statutory Rules:
SR 2002 No. 189 - The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
SR 2002 No. 203 - The Income Support (General) and Jobseeker's Allowance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
and has no objection to the Rules"
The Committee noted the letter from the North & West Belfast Health & Services Trust, dated 27 may, and associated report.
The Clerk was asked to write to the Trust to suggest that a presentation on 'Caring Through The Troubles', possibly in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings at a future date might be more appropriate than attendance at a meeting of the Committee.
Meeting with the Speaker on 'Parity'
The Chairman advised the Committee that he and the Deputy Chairperson had met with the Speaker to discuss concerns about the Committee's role in scrutinising legislation. He confirmed that he Speaker regarded the issue as both procedural and political.
Members agreed to consider the matter further at a future meeting, particularly the need for further research to identify
if the provisions in Article 87 of the Northern Ireland Act were raised in debate as the Northern Ireland Act progressed through Parliament; and
to explore the extent of the financial costs of creating a separate computer systems for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA)
Members noted that Mr D O'Connor would speak, in his capacity as a Member of the Committee, at a NIFHA event on the 19 June concerning the forthcoming housing legislation and the role of the Committee in scrutinising that legislation.
Informal Meeting with NIHE Omagh District Office Staff
The Committee noted that an informal meeting with the group has been scheduled between 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12 June in Room 152 and agreed to attend subject to availability.
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 13 June in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
Mr F Cobain
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
JUNE 2002