THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2000 AT 2.00PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)   Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson) Sir John Gorman   Mr D McClarty   Mr B Hutchinson   Mr M Robinson   Mr J Tierney   Mr S Wilson

In Attendance:   Mr G Martin   Mr K Barker   Mr L Hart   Ms V Surplus

Apologies: Mr G Kelly   Mr E ONeill

Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.10 pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should invite the Chief Executive of the NIHE and a representative of the Low Pay Unit to the meeting scheduled for 30 November to discuss the implications of the proposed NIHE rent increase.

3. Subordinate Legislation     

The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Child Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Persons Abroad: Benefits for Widows and Widowers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

Ms Gildernew left the meeting at 2.15pm.

4. THE HOUSING BENEFIT (GENERAL) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS (NI) 2000

Departmental Officials: Mr J O'Neill, Social Security Legislation Branch

Ms E Tinnelly, Social Security Legislation Branch

The Chairman welcomed the above-named officials to the meeting at 2.15 pm. and they then gave a brief explanation of the proposed Statutory Rule:

The Chairman thanked the officials for their briefing, and they left the meeting

Agreed: Following the briefing from the officials on the rationale for and implications of the proposed legislation, the Committee was content with the proposals.

Mr M Robinson left the meeting at 2.25pm.

5. Street Trading Bill - Committee Stage

Since the last meeting a written submission on the Street Trading Bill from the Belfast City Council had been made available to the Committee and the Department. In the light of this new information the Committee agreed that it should ask the officials for clarification, as necessary, regarding clauses 1 -13 (considered at the previous meeting) before proceeding to consider the remaining clauses and schedules.

Ms Gildernew returned to the meeting at 2.40pm

Public Session

The Chairman welcomed the officials to the meeting at 2.40pm.

DSD Officials: Mr Gordon Gibson

Mr Ivan McMaster

Mr Tom Bowler

The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

Clause 3 - after discussion the Committee agreed to consider this clause again in more depth at the next meeting.

Mr J Tierney left the meeting at 2.45pm.

Clause 9 - after discussion the Committee agreed to consider this clause again in more depth at the next meeting.

Clauses 13 - 14 the Committee agreed that they should stand as part of the Bill.

Clause 15 - after discussion the Committee agreed to consider this clause again in more depth at the next meeting.

Clauses 16 - 17 the Committee agreed that they should stand as part of the Bill.

Mr Cobain left the meeting at 3.27pm.and Ms Gildernew took the chair.

Clause 18 - after discussion the Committee agreed to consider this clause again in more depth at the next meeting.

Mr J Tierney and Mr M Robinson returned to the meeting at 3.35pm.

Clauses 19 - 30 the Committee agreed that they should stand as part of the Bill.

Schedules 1 - 3 the Committee agreed that they should stand as part of the Bill.

The Committee requested that the officials consider the issues of concern raised by the Committee and that they return next week to enable the Committee to consider them further. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left at 3.45pm.

Private Session

6. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should invite the Council for Mortgage lenders to the meeting scheduled for 6 December.

The Clerk advised the Committee that an open invitation had been received from NICARE to attend a lunchtime anniversary event in the Long Gallery and that any members who wished to could attend.

7.Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 23 November 2000 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN  

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN  

November 2000