TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 1.30 PM IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)   Sir J Gorman   Ms M Nelis   Mr E ONeill   Mr M Robinson   Mr B Hutchinson

Apologies:   Mr G Kelly (Deputy Chairperson)   Mr J Tierney   Mr S Wilson   Mr D O'Connor

In Attendance: Mr S Graham   Mr L McLernon   Miss K Kelly   Ms J Neill   Mr S Farrell

Mr Cobain took the Chair at 1.42 p.m.

Public Session

1. Housing Support Services Bill.

The Chairman welcomed officials to the meeting at 1.44 p.m.

Mr Jerome Burns Bill Team Leader, Housing Policy Division

Ms Dolores Ferran Assistant Director NIHE

Mr Burns made a statement outlining the reasons for the need for the legislation, the main thrust of the Bill and the legislative provisions obtaining elsewhere in Great Britain.

Mr B Hutchinson joined the meeting at 1.47p.m.

The Committee proceeded to carry out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Housing Support Services Bill. The clauses were read together with the related commentary in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum. Officials provided clarification in relation to a number of clauses.

The Long Title was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the long title as drafted.

Clause 1 was considered.

Following discussion about a possible amendment to the Clause (about including provision for a consultation process to be followed in relation to any regulations, guidance or other change to the provision of housing support services), the Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the Clause and invited the Department to consider the matter and report back to the Committee as soon as possible.

Clause 2 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 2 as drafted.

Clause 3 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 3 as drafted.

Clause 4 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 4 as drafted.

Clause 5 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 5 as drafted.

Clause 6 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 6 as drafted.

Clause 7 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 7 as drafted.

Clause 8 was considered.

Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause 8 as drafted.

2. Date of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 12 September in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

Mr F Cobain

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN  

SEPTEMBER 2002