Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began in closed session at 10:17am.       

1. Welfare Reform Bill

Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant) briefed the Committee on Standing Order 35.  This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Michael Copeland joined the meeting at 10.19am

Mr Gregory Campbell joined the meeting 10.34am

Mr Sammy Douglas joined the meeting at 10.39am

Mr Damien Martin left the meeting at 10.45am

The Committee agreed to return to this issue at its meeting on Tuesday 23^rd October.  

The meeting opened in public session at 10:46am.

2. Apologies

Apologies were as indicated above.

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised Members that he met with Parenting NI regarding the DWP Consultation on Supporting separated families.

Mr David McClarty joined the meeting at 10.49am

4. Matters Arising

The Committee considered a draft response to the DWP Consultation on Supporting separated families.

Agreed: Members agreed to forward the response to DWP.

5. Charities Bill Report

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.50am

• Ms Andrea Watson, DSD; and
• Ms Vera McCann, DSD

The officials advised the Committee that the Department is minded to make an amendment to Clause 3 of the Charities Bill which relates to insolvency matters.  The officials advised that any proposed amendment may be made at Consideration Stage.

This was recorded by Hansard.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

The officials left the meeting 10.55am

The Committee considered a draft Report on the Committee Stage of the Charities Bill.

Agreed:  The Committee read and agreed the introduction to the Bill on pages 2 to 3.

Agreed: The Committee read and agreed the Consideration of the Bill on page 4.

Agreed: The Committee read and agreed the Clause-by-Clause Scrutiny of the Bill on pages 5 and 6.

Agreed: The Committee read and agreed the Executive Summary of the Bill on page 1.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report to be printed.      

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the relevant extract from the draft minutes of the proceedings of 18 October 2012 be included in the Committee’s Report.

6. Correspondence

The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to Departmental correspondence regarding the memorandum of understanding in respect of the DSD RHIB, fuel poverty and Fort George site.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to consider issues in respect of the Green New Deal in the New Year.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed for all items of correspondence to be dealt with as per the Correspondence Memo.

7. Any Other Business

There was no other business

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will take place at 10:00am on Tuesday 23 October 2012 in Room 29 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.08am.

Mr Alex Maskey
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development.
25 October 2012