THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2001 AT 2.00PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)   Sir John Gorman   Mr B Hutchinson   Mr D McClarty   Mr D O'Connor   Mr E ONeill   Mr M Robinson   Mr J Tierney   Mr S Wilson

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

Apologies:   Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson), Mr G Kelly

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

(i) At last week's meeting the Committee agreed to ask officials to attend to-day's meeting to provide a broad outline of the content of the Housing Bill. The Minister has written to say that there are difficulties regarding the Housing Bill and it is felt that officials would not be able to add to the Committee's understanding of the present position and they will not be attending.

(ii) At last week's meeting the Committee agreed to invite the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency to attend the meeting of the Committee scheduled for 25 January to present the Agency's 'Operational Vision'. The Chief Executive is unavailable on 25 January but will attend the meeting scheduled for 1 February.

3. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - The Housing Benefit (Extended Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

4. Subordinate Legislation - Motions

Departmental Officials: John O'Neill - Social Security Legislation Branch   Scott Carson - Social Security Legislation Branch   Gerry McCann - Social Security Legislation Branch

The Chairman welcomed the above-named officials to the meeting at 2.23p.m. and they gave a brief explanation of the proposed Statutory Rules. The officials briefed the Committee on the rationale for and implications of the proposed Statutory Rules. Following clarification the Committee was content with the proposals and passed the following motion:

"The Social Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 2000 No.361 - The Child Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.362 - The Sharing of State Scheme Rights (Provision of Information and Valuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.360 - The Social Security (Contracting-out and Qualifying Earnings Factor and Revision of Relevant Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.368 - The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.365 - The Social Security (Joint Claims: Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Statutory Rule 2000 No.349 The Personal Pension Schemes (Payments by Employers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and Statutory Rule No.366 and Statutory Rule 2000 No.367 - The Social Security (Capital Limits and Earnings Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, and The Social Security (Enhanced Disability Premium Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 respectively and has no objections to the Rules."

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

Public session

5. Forthcoming Housing Bill

(i) Sir John Gorman wished to outline some of his observations regarding the future of housing in Northern Ireland;

• radical and unique success of Housing Policy since 1972
• need to attract Private Finance
• link housing operationally to regeneration
• reduce Department costs
• need to have an organisation with flexibility capable of diversifying.

To achieve the above Sir John felt that one approach would be to transfer assets to a new body which could be called, for example, the Northern Ireland Housing and Regeneration Trust. A Trust board would be set up which would consist of politicians, tenants and independent people of competence. The Trust would be operationally independent but would be controlled by the Minister and Committee for Social Development. This new body would be able to obtain private finance, and by delegation, assess need and homelessness and housing benefit.

The NIHE would retain responsibility for policy on compulsory requisition, grants and energy conversation which help contain Departmental running costs, reduces legal costs and regulates performance of landlords (private Housing Associations).

(ii) The Committee considered the Ministers written response of 17January regarding the forthcoming Housing Bill and agreed to ask Departmental officials to attend next week's meeting to explain the policy intentions behind the following legislative proposals;

• Houses in Multiple Occupation
• Regulation of the Private Rented Sector
• Private Sector Renewal
• Housing Association Tenants
• Homelessness
• Anti-social Behaviour
• Large Scale Voluntary Transfers.

The Committee further agreed that following the explanation from Departmental officials the Committee would select topics and set terms of reference for inclusion in the future work programme.

Private session

6. Any Other Business

There was no other business.

7.Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 25 January 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN  

January 2001