Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Sir J Gorman
Mr J Tierney
Mr T Hamilton
Mr M Robinson
Mr S Wilson
Mr E ONeill
Apologies:
Ms M Nellis
Mr B Hutchinson
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Miss K Kelly
Miss F Douglas
Ms J Neill
Mr S Farrell
Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.33 p.m.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the meeting held on the 27 June.
The minutes of the meeting were agreed.
2. Forward Plan of Business
The Committee noted the revised Forward Plan of Business.
3. Matters Arising
The Chairman advised Members that the Housing Bill and the Housing Support Services Bill would reach the 2nd Stage on the 3 July, and that he would be unable to participate in the proceedings.
The Committee agreed the Deputy Chairperson speak on both Bills.
4. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
The Chairman welcomed Department Officials Mr John O'Neill and Miss Doreen Roy to the meeting.
Mr O'Neill presented an outlined for each Proposal before the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposal to make a Statutory Rules in respect of the following:-
The Social Security (Personal Allowances for Children and Young Persons Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Income-Related benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance (Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credit Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Income-Related Benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance (Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security (Tax Credits Act 2000:Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2002
The Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
Regulations Relating to Judicial Pensions
The Stakeholder Pension Schemes (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Stakeholder Pension Schemes (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security (Incapacity) (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Disablement) (Prescribed Loss of Faculty) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Committee voiced concern that the main method of payment for all benefits will be by automated credit transfer into a Bank or Post Office account. The Department was asked to provide the Committee with a copy of the agreement between the Agency and the Banks and to advise the Committee of any proposed changes to the agreement prior to them being enacted.
The Income Support (General) (Standard Interest Rate) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Child Support (Temporary Compensation Payment Scheme) (Modification and Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
Public Session
5. The Executives Position Report to the Assembly
The Committee considered the letter from the Chairman Committee for Finance and Personnel, dated 7 June, and the letter from the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, dated 6 June, and associated papers.
The Chairman welcomed the following Officials to the meeting at 2.58 p.m.
| DSD Officials: | Mr Derek Baker | Deputy Secretary Resources, Housing and Social Security Group |
| Ms Pauline Keegan | Acting Director Central Business Unit | |
| Mr Barney McGahan | SSA Director of Operations | |
| Mr David Crothers | Director of Housing |
The Officials made a brief presentation on the Executive's Position Report.
6. Department for Social Development Corporate Plan
The Chairman asked the Officials to make their presentation.
Mr E ONeill joined the meeting at 3.09 p.m.
Mr M Robinson left the meeting at 3.17 p.m.
Mr M Robinson joined the meeting at 3.27 p.m.
Mr J Tierney left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.
The question and answer session is summarised at Annex A.
The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left at 3.35 p.m.
7. Child Support Agency - Annual Reports and Accounts 2001 / 2002
The Committee noted the letter from the Minister, dated 21 June, and the Annual Report and Accounts.
Mr S Wilson left the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
Mr T Hamilton joined the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
8. Child Support Agency - Annual Report on Decision Making
The Committee noted the letter from the Minister, dated 21 June, and the CSA Annual Report on Decision Making.
9. North Belfast Action Project Report
The Committee noted the letter from the Minister, dated 24 June.
Private Session
10. Any Other Business
State Credit Pension Bill and The Social Security Bill
The Committee considered the letter from the Minister's office, dated 28 June, advising the Minister intends to seek accelerated passage for both Bills.
The Committee agreed the Chairman should write to the Minister to determine when he proposed to consult the Committee regarding accelerated passage for the Bills.
Housing Bill Provisions
Members noted the letter from the Minister, dated 21 June, concerning correspondence from Dr Esmond Birnie MLA, Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning, about the Housing Bill and provisions it contains relating to private sector tenants.
The Chairman advised the Committee that the Minister's reply had been passed to Dr Birnie.
The Private Rented Sector in Northern Ireland - Conclusions
The Chairman referred the Committee to the conclusions extract from the report and asked that it be placed in the Members housing Bill file for future reference.
Draft Housing Bill
The Chairman referred Members to the letter from Shelter Northern Ireland, dated 18 June, concerning the Housing Bill and confirmed that Shelter would be included in the Committee's consultation on the Bill.
Royal Assent to the Pension Credit Bill
The Committee noted the letter from the Department for Work and Pensions, dated 27 June, detailing the main points of Pension Credit policy.
Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin 1 January - 31 March 2002
Members noted the Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin produced by the Statistics and Research branch of the Department for Social Development.
Statistical Press Release
The Committee noted the Compendium of Social Security Data published.
Northern Ireland Child Support Agency: Comparisons with GB
The Committee noted the letter from Gerry Keenan Chief Executive CSA, dated 28 June, and associated information comparing the CSA Northern Ireland performance with the GB Agency.
Westfield Shoppingtowns Limited - Belfast City Centre
Members noted the letter from Westfield Shoppingtowns limited, dated 19 June, concerning the future of retail in Belfast.
The Committee agreed the Chairman write declining a presentation due to the impending legislation workload.
Social Security Fraud Act Consultation on the Draft Code of Practice
The Committee noted the letter from the Social Security Agency, dated 27 June, advising the contribution made by the Committee has been added to the list of respondents.
13. Date of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 5 September in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
Mr F Cobain
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
JULY 2002