MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.000 PM ON THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2002.
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Mr G Kelly (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms M Nelis
Mr M Robinson
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr S Wilson
Mr T Hamilton
Apologies:
Mr J Tierney
Sir J Gorman
Mr E ONeill
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Miss K Kelly
Ms J Neill
Mr S Farrell
Ms A Montgomery
Mr Cobain took the Chair at 2.27 p.m.
Public Session
- Minutes of the meetings held on the 10 September and 12 September
- Matters Arising
- Housing Bill.
The Chairman welcomed officials to the meeting at 2.30 p.m.
Mr Scott Carson Bill Team Leader
George Davidson Housing Management
Mr Michael O'Connor Housing Management
The Committee continued its initial clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Housing Bill. The clauses were read together with the related commentary in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum.
- Social Security Claimants
- Forward Plan of Business
The Committee noted the updated Forward plan of Business.
- Subordinate Legislation
Motions
- Consideration of the Executive's Position Report to the Assembly
- Executive Programme Funds
- Victoria Square Development
- Date of Next Meeting
The minutes of the meetings were agreed.
Needs and Effectiveness Evaluations
Members noted the terms of the letter from the Chairman to the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister about the Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation on Housing.
Mr G Kelly joined the meeting at 2.34 pm.
Clause 22 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 23 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 24 was considered.
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 24 as drafted
The Committee then moved to the section of the Bill dealing with Grants. The Chairman drew attention to the Committee's position, as recorded in the Committee's First Report into Housing, published in October 2001, and its support for the policy of moving from mandatory to discretionary grants in order to achieve more effective targeting.
Mr Davidson gave a brief overview of the grants affected by Clauses 25 to 79..
Clause 25 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 26 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 27 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 28 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 29 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 30 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 31 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 32 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 33 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 34 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 35 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 36 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 37 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 38 was considered
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 39 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 40 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 41 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 42 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 43 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 44 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 45 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 46 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 47 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 48 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 49 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 50 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 51 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 52 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 53 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 54 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 55 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 56 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 57 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 58 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 59 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 60 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Mr S Wilson left the meeting at 2.48 pm
Clause 61 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 62 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 63 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 64 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 65 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 66 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 67 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 68 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 69 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 70 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 71 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Mr S Wilson joined the meeting at 3.05 pm
Clause 72 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 73 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 74 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 75 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 76 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 77 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 78 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Clause 79 was considered.
The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause until a later date.
Officials from the Department undertook to consult with the Clerk with a view to providing the Committee with a statement of its position in relation to the range of amendments suggested for Clauses 25 to 79.
Members agreed to resume Clause by Clause consideration of the Bill on 24 September.
Mr F Cobain vacated the chair at 3.16 p.m.
Mr G Kelly took the chair at 3.17 p.m.
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed officials to the meeting at 3.18 p.m.
Mr John O'Neill Social Security Policy & Legislation Division
Ms Doreen Roy Social Security Policy & Legislation Division
Mr Michael McGinn Social Policy & Legislation Division
Mr O'Neill made a brief presentation concerning Social Security Claimants.
The question and answer session is summarised at Annex A.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
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. 280 - The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2002
SR 2002 No. 276 - The Social Security (Incapacity) (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2)
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
And has no objections to the Rules"
The Deputy Chairperson referred the Committee to the letter from Francie Molloy, Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, dated 6 September. Members noted the Recommendations relating to Statutory Committees and the Clerk was asked to make the appropriate arrangements with the Department to facilitate scrutiny of budget proposals.
The Committee noted the letter from Mr Bryan Davis Director of Corporate Services, dated 10 September, concerning the Department's bids to the next round of EPF allocations.
Members endorsed the draft response indicating the Committee's support for the bids, subject to the inclusion of comments about the need to disperse the funding urgently if the bids were successful.
Members considered the letter from the Minister, dated 12 September, in which he indicates he is minded to adopt the Victoria Square Development Scheme. Following discussion the Committee agreed the item be deferred until the meeting scheduled for the 26 September.
The next Committee meeting will be at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday 24 September in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
Mr F Cobain
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
SEPTEMBER 2002
17 September 2002 / Menu / 24 September 2002