This report was not approved formally by the Committee prior to the suspension of the Assembly on 14 October 2002, but is published by order of the Speaker.

Committee for Social Development

Thursday 12 September 2002

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

Housing Support Services Bill: 
Committee Stage
(NIA 23/01)

Members present:

Mr Cobain (Chairperson)
Sir John Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mrs Nelis
Mr ONeill
Mr M Robinson

Witness:

Mr J Burns ) Department for Social Development

Clause 1 (Provision of housing support services)

The Chairperson: I welcome Mr Jerome Burns from the Department for Social Development.

Members will recall that when we examined this clause previously, we thought that an amendment was appropriate. Officials undertook to check whether the Minister would agree to such an amendment and if he was content to arrange for it to be drafted.

Mr Burns: Following the meeting on Tuesday, I made a submission to the Minister pointing out the Committee’s desire that provision for consultation be included in the Bill, as suggested by a number of the consultees. The Minister has indicated that he is quite content with this, and he will bring forward an appropriate amendment in this regard. I have also been in contact with the legislative draftsman, and he does not see any difficulty with it either. He will draft a suitable amendment that mirrors the Great Britain provisions.

The Chairperson: Can you confirm that the Minister has agreed to arrange for an additional subsection to be drafted?

Mr Burns: Yes.

The Chairperson: Are we content with that?

Mrs Nelis: The additional subsection will be on the consultation process. Is that with regard to means-testing and charging?

Mr Burns: As the title of the clause suggests, it is with regard to the provision of housing support services. The issues of charging and means-testing will be dealt with under clause 2(4) which says that

"Grants under this section may be paid on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed."

Again, the Department will be taking the views of people on issues such as charging and means-testing.

Mrs Nelis: I just want to clarify that point. Will there be a separate consultation exercise on that?

Mr Burns: It will not be as wide as the exercise for the ‘Towards Supporting People’ document, which went out to a number of people and bodies who would not have a direct interest in this Bill. As the amendment says:

"such recipients or representatives of recipients of housing support services as appear to be appropriate; and such providers or representatives of providers as appear to be appropriate."

They will all be included in any discussions and consultations.

The Chairperson: The question is that the Committee is content with clause 1, subject to the Minister’s making legislative provision for consultation on the relevant subordinate legislation and on the basis that he has undertaken to arrange drafting of a new subsection along the lines suggested by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action and the Law Centre (NI).

Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the Committee’s proposed amendment, put and agreed to.

The Chairperson: That concludes the Committee’s clause-by-clause consideration of the Housing Support Services Bill.

10 September 2002 / Menu / 12 September 2002 (ii)