Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 06 December 2012
Venue: Room 29 Parliament Buildings
The meeting was declared open to the public at 10.07am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft Minutes of Meetings 28 & 29 November 2012
Agreed: The minutes of the meetings held on 28 and 29 November 2012 were agreed.
3. Chairpersons Business
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the Chairperson addressed Advice NI’s AGM last Friday.
4. Matters Arising
The Committee considered correspondence form the Social Security Agency advising that the DWP has published Professor Harrington’s third and final independent review of the Work Capability Assessment.
The Deputy Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee had previously scheduled a visit to Royston House to see how such work capability assessments are carried out by ATOS but this was postponed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to arrange a visit in the New Year to an assessment centre to follow up on the findings of this report and the Department’s response to it.
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the following proposed subordinate legislation:
The Employment and Support Allowance (Limited Capability for Work and Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Rule to be made.
The Committee noted the following Commencement Orders:
The Child Maintenance (2008 Act) (Commencement No 9) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
And
The Welfare Reform (2010 Act) (Commencement No 5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
6. Correspondence
The Committee revisited correspondence from the Department which clarified its future plans in relation to Fort George
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this item of correspondence to the OFMDFM Committee
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department advising that a joint consultation between the UK Government, our Executive and the Scottish Government on draft street trading and pedlary regulations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from the Department in the New Year.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding the Committee’s request for the Outline Business Cases for the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request the Strategic Outline Cases as suggested in the correspondence.
The Committee considered correspondence regarding the issue around the specification of hinges used by the Housing Executive.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department asking it to address the issues raised in the letter and to schedule a briefing from the Department in the New Year on the proposed cost savings.
Members were content for the remaining items of correspondence to be dealt with as per the correspondence memo.
7. Business Improvement Districts Bill
The Committee considered a draft of the Business Improvement Districts Bill report and noted that the final version of the Bill report will be agreed at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to Clerk forward any comments on the draft report to the clerk by noon on Monday.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the Committee office are in discussions with the Department regarding the scheduling of the Forward Work Programme for the New Year.
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
9. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place at 10:00am on Thursday 13 December 2012 in Room 29 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 10.23am.
