TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2000 AT 12.00 PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman) Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson) Sir J Gorman Mr B Hutchinson Mr G Kelly Mr D O'Connor Mr E ONeill Mr M Robinson Mr J Tierney Mr S Wilson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin   Mr L Hart   Mr D Harkin   Ms V Surplus

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

3. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of amendments to regulations in relation to the Social Fund Maternity Grant, as well as Housing Benefit, Income Support and Job Seeker's Allowance.

4. Housing - The Future of the NI Housing Executive

In a wide-ranging discussion on the future of social housing in NI, the Committee was in broad agreement that it should examine radically the provision of new build and maintenance of stock in a holistic way. This should be completed in advance of the Housing Bill that is to be introduced in the autumn. It was agreed that Members acting individually or through their parties could bring papers to the Committee outlining their vision for the future of social housing in NI, and these could then be discussed by the Committee with the help of a facilitator. The main issues raised were as follows:

• The need for a state-controlled element in future social housing provision, as well as significant accountability (which some Members did not perceive either the Housing Executive (HE) or the Housing Associations as currently providing).

• New build should be based on assessment needs, not on financial merit. Housing policy should be directly linked with targeting social need.

• There was concern that if the HE were to be gradually stripped of general social housing responsibility, it could be left with a rump that no one else wants.

• The HE's inability to draw upon private funds because of the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement constraints is a problem; the possibility of freeing the HE from this shackle should be investigated.

• In relation to the above, one option floated was for the splitting of the HE into a small regulatory body alongside a newly created Trust in which to invest the housing stock.

5. Compact-Draft Terms of Reference

Agreed: In line one, replace "general principles" with "broad outline". The draft terms of reference were otherwise agreed.

6. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet next at 2.00 PM on Thursday 10 February in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN  

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN