Notice of Amendments tabled on 2 February 2015 for Consideration Stage

Clause 26, Page 13, Line 13

Leave out ‘3 years’ and insert ‘18 months’

Clause 47, Page 25, Line 29

Leave out ‘3 years’ and insert ‘18 months’

Clause 50, Page 35, Line 14

Leave out ‘3 years’ and insert ‘18 months’

Clause 63, Page 53, Line 3

Leave out ‘ordinary’

Clause 63, Page 53, Line 10

Leave out ‘ordinary’

Clause 63, Page 53, Line 17

Leave out subsections (6) and (7)

New Clause

After clause 63 insert -

‘Entitlement to work: statutory shared parental pay

63A.—(1) Part 12ZC of the Contributions and Benefits Act (inserted by section 5 of the Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 167ZU(2) (entitlement: birth) after paragraph (c) there is inserted—

“(ca) that at the end of that prescribed week the claimant mother was entitled to be in that employment,”.

(3) In section 167ZU(4) (entitlement: birth) after paragraph (d) there is inserted—

“(da) that at the end of that prescribed week the claimant was entitled to be in that employment,”.

(4) In section 167ZW(2) (entitlement: adoption) after paragraph (c) there is inserted—

“(ca) that at the end of that prescribed week claimant A was entitled to be in that employment,”.

(5) In section 167ZW(4) (entitlement: adoption) after paragraph (d) there is inserted—

“(da) that at the end of that prescribed week claimant B was entitled to be in that employment,”.’

Clause 111

The Minister for Social Development gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that clause 111 stand part of the Bill.

Clause 112

The Minister for Social Development gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that clause 112 stand part of the Bill.

Clause 129

The Minister for Social Development gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that clause 129 stand part of the Bill.

New Clause

After clause 130 insert -

‘Discretionary support Commissioner

130B.—(1) There shall be an officer known as “the discretionary support Commissioner”.

(2) The discretionary support Commissioner shall be appointed by the Department on such terms and conditions as the Department may determine.

(3) The discretionary support Commissioner—

(a) shall appoint such discretionary support inspectors; and

(b) may appoint such staff for the Commissioner and for discretionary support inspectors,

as the Commissioner thinks fit but with the consent of the Department.

(4) Appointments under subsection (3) shall be made from persons made available to the Commissioner by the Department.

(5) Discretionary support inspectors have such functions as are conferred or imposed on them—

(a) by regulations under section 130A, or

(b) by any other statutory provision,

in relation to the review of decisions of the Department.

(6) It shall be the duty of the discretionary support Commissioner—

(a) to monitor the quality of decisions of discretionary support inspectors and give them such advice and assistance as the Commissioner thinks fit to improve the standard of their decisions;

(b) to arrange such training of discretionary support inspectors as the Commissioner considers necessary;

(c) to carry out such other functions in connection with the work of discretionary support inspectors as the Department may require;

(d) to report annually in writing to the Department on the standards of reviews by discretionary support inspectors.

(7) The Department shall publish any report made under subsection (6)(d).

(8) In Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Administration Act after the entries under the heading “The social fund” there is inserted—

“Discretionary support officers

The discretionary support Commissioner.

A discretionary support inspector.

A member of any staff appointed under section 130B(3)(b) of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.”

(9) In the Freedom of Information Act 2000, in Part 7 of Schedule 1 after the entry relating to the social fund Commissioner there is inserted—

“The discretionary support Commissioner appointed under section 130B of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.”.’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 3

Leave out paragraph (b) and insert -

‘( ) sections 51 and 56 (employment and support allowance);’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 6

At end insert -

‘( ) sections 65, 67 and 68 (industrial injuries benefit);

( ) section 69 (housing benefit determinations);’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 8

At end insert -

‘( ) sections 95 and 96 (benefit cap regulations);’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 9

Leave out paragraphs (f), (g) and (h)

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 23

Leave out ‘section 109 to 111’ and insert ‘sections 109 and 110’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 24

Leave out paragraph (l)

Clause 133, Page 95

Leave out lines 27 and 28 and insert -

‘( ) sections 121 and 124 to 126 (child support maintenance);’

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 31

Leave out paragraph (q)

Clause 133, Page 95, Line 32

At end insert -

‘( ) sections 130A and 130B (discretionary support);’

Clause 133, Page 96, Line 9

Leave out subsection (5)

Schedule 12, Page 134

Leave out lines 31 to 40

Schedule 12, Page 153

Leave out lines 4 to 8

Notice of Amendments tabled on 2 February 2015 for Consideration Stage

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