Official Report (Hansard)

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Committee for Social Development

Pensions Bill:  Consideration of Committee Report

The Chairperson: Copies of the Pensions Bill report are in the red folders.  It is like 'This is Your Life'.  It has been for the past few weeks.  We concluded clause-by-clause scrutiny on 23 February 2012.  The report summarises the Committee's advice to the Assembly on the Bill.  It has been drafted, and is now to be considered by the Committee.  I have to go through it stage by stage.  If you need any clarification, ask the Committee Clerk.  Pages 3 to 9 form the introduction of the report.  Also listed is the content of the Bill as introduced.

The Committee Clerk: It is a case of going through the paragraphs and making sure that members are content.

The Chairperson: This is for factual accuracy as opposed to having a new debate.

Mr Easton: That is a slight relief.

Mr Douglas: Maybe we should hurry before Mickey comes back in. [Laughter.]

The Chairperson: OK.  On that basis, are members content to move forward?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Are members content with pages 3 to 9?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Are members content with pages 10 and 11, which is a record of the oral evidence taken during Committee Stage?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Pages 12 to 17 are a record of the clause-by-clause scrutiny.  Are members content to agree that section of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Pages 21 to 36, or appendix 1, contain the minutes of proceedings.  Are members content with that section of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Thank you.  Pages 39 to 114, or appendix 2, contain the minutes of evidence.  Are members content with that part of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Pages 117 to 124, or appendix 3, contain the written submissions.  Are members content with that section of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Pages 127 to 154, or appendix 4, contain the departmental and Committee submissions.  Are members content with that section of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Page 157 contains the list of witnesses.  Are members content with that page of the report as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Finally, the executive summary of the report, which is on page 1, must be agreed.  Are members content with the executive summary as drafted?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Are members content that the report be the first report of the Social Development Committee to the Assembly?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: Thank you very much.  Obviously, once the Committee has agreed the report, there can be no further amendments to it.  If members are content, we will approve the section of today's minutes that refers to the Pensions Bill report.  I will sign off on that.  Are members happy enough with that?  That then allows the printing of the report to proceed without the need for a further Committee meeting.  Are members content that I sign the minutes as of this meeting today?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: The report will then be printed within the set time frame.  Is the Committee content that the report be printed on 15 March?

Members indicated assent.

The Chairperson: That was painless.  Thank you very much.