THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2000 AT 2.00PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)   Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)   Mr B Hutchinson   Mr E ONeill   Mr M Robinson   Mr J Tierney   Mr S Wilson

Apologies:   Sir John Gorman

Mr D McClarty

In Attendance:   Mr G Martin   Mrs J McMurray   Mr L Hart   Ms V Surplus   Ms E Regan   Mr M Finnegan

Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.10pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the meetings of 12 and 16 October were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

The Committee is still awaiting the Department's response to the points raised regarding the Street Trading Bill. Representatives from the three organisations listed below have been approached to make oral submissions to the Committee in relation to the Bill:

Belfast City Council   Coleraine Town Centre Partnership   Street Traders (Mr J McKeever)

3. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following: The Jobseeker's Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations (Northern Ireland)2000; The Social Security (Joint Claims: Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000; The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Amendment Regulations.

Members have requested a fuller explanation of the implications of the proposals in relation to The Social Fund (Recovery by Deductions from Benefits)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. The Clerk will arrange for Departmental Officials to attend a future meeting.

Public Session

4. PRESENTATION BY THE NI FEDERATION OF HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

Mr Hutchinson declared his interest as a member of Filor Housing Association.

Those present:

Mr Chris Williamson - Director NI Federation of Housing Associations   Mrs Clare McCarty - Chief Executive Clanmil Housing Association   Mr Ian Elliott - Chief Executive Oaklee Housing Association   Mr Gerry Kelly - Chief Executive North & West Housing Ltd

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.25pm. Mr Williamson made a presentation to the Committee and this was followed by a question-and-answer session. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

Ms Gildernew left the meeting at 2.55pm and returned at 3.22pm.   Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.30pm and returned at 3.42pm.   Mrs Clare McCarty left the meeting at 3.44pm.   Mr Wilson left the meeting at 3.45pm

The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left at 3.45pm.

Private Session

5. Budget

Agreed: In order to facilitate discussion on the Departmental Budget allocation, the Committee will begin next week's meeting at the earlier time of 1.00pm.

The October Monitoring Round was received. It was noted in the Minister's letter of 17 October that another £20 million of housing sales have been given up to the Centre.

Members noted the correspondence between the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Assembly's Finance Committee. The Clerk will write to the Finance Committee to ask what it proposes to do with the information.

6. Any Other Business

The Minister is due to attend the meeting planned for 9 November to discuss the Programme for Government for his Department.

7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 1.00pm on Thursday 26 October in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN  

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN  

October 2000