Disability Action’s
Northern Ireland Assembly Disability Monitor
Tuesday 2 November 2010
For further information, please contact Sinead Owens, Communications and Campaigns Officer,
A. Minutes from Committee Meetings
Week ending 29 October 2010
· Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, 14 October 2010
· Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 14 October 2010
B. Last Week’s Assembly Business
C. This Week’s Assembly Business
D. Written Answers to Questions
Department of Education
· Transport Policy
Department for Employment and Learning
· Access to University Education for People with a Disability
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
· Occupational Therapists
· Supported Living Accommodation
· Review of Support Provision for Carers
Department of Social Development
· Social Housing
E. Useful Information
A. Minutes from Committee Meetings
Week ending 29 October 2010
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Thursday 14 October 2010
Matters Arising
The Committee noted the response from the Department in relation to the Olympics and Paralympic Strategy.
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
14 October 2010
Chair’s Business
The Chairperson reported to members that the sub-committee to appoint a specialist adviser on budget had met and was content with the tender pack and the list of those people to be invited to tender. The Committee agreed to issue the tender pack to those on the select tender list. The Committee noted that the sub-committee would next meet on Tuesday 9 November 2010.
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee of a meeting she had had with victims/survivors of the Donagh abuse case and the Committee agreed to write to the RQIA regarding issues raised at the meeting.
The Deputy Chairperson suggested that members of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee and the Justice Committee meet with victims/survivors of the Donagh abuse case following the publication of the RQIA interim report. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should look into the most appropriate mechanism for arranging such a meeting.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information regarding Budget 2010 and the in-year budget for 2010/ 2011.
Evidence session on Private Members Bill on Autism
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Arlene Cassidy Secretariat to All Party Assembly Group on Autism
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
B. Last Week’s Assembly Business
Plenary Session
25 October 2010
Private Members’ Business-Comprehensive Spending Review
Mr Speaker: Having been given notice by not less than 30 Members under Standing Order 11, I have summoned the Assembly to meet today for the purpose of debating the motion that appears in the Order Paper. The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to two hours for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have 10 minutes in which to propose and 10 minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. Two amendments have been selected and published on the Marshalled List. The proposer of each amendment will have 10 minutes in which to propose and five minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. All other Members who are called to speak will have five minutes.
Mr Adams: I beg to move
That this Assembly has serious concerns about the impact of the British Government’s comprehensive spending review proposals; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to address these concerns
>>Read debate in full
C. This Week’s Assembly Business
Plenary SessionTuesday 2 November 2010
The Assembly to sit at 10.30am
1. Prayers
2. Executive Committee Business
Second Stage - Justice Bill (NIA Bill 1/10)
Minister of Justice
3. Question Time
3.1 Education
3.2 Employment and Learning
4. Committee Business
Motion - Public Accounts Committee Reports and Memoranda of Reply
Proposed:
That this Assembly takes note of the following Public Accounts Committee Reports:
Report on the Management of Social Housing Rent Collection and Arrears (16/09/10R)
Report on the Performance of the Health Service in Northern Ireland (35/09/10R)
Report on the Performance of the Planning Service (36/09/10R)
Report on the Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals (53/09/10R)
and the following Department of Finance and Personnel Memoranda of Reply:
Report on the Management of Social Housing Rent Collection and
Report on the Performance of the Health Service in Northern Ireland and Report on the Performance of the Planning Service
Report on the Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals
Click here for full list of reports to be considered.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Tuesday, 2 November 2010 at 11.00 amRoom 21, Parliament Buildings
Consideration of party submissions on:
(i) The size of the Assembly
(ii) Sections 16A-16C of the Northern Ireland Act
· Forward Work Programme
· Research Paper on Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill
Click here to view agenda in full
Committee for Employment and Learning
Tuesday, 2 November 2010 Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
1:00 p.m. Public Session
1:00 p.m. Briefing on the proposed redundancies at Belfast Metropolitan College
· Witnesses TBC
1.30 p.m. Employment No.2 Bill: Clause-by-Clause scrutiny
Committee for Finance and Personnel
Wednesday, 3 November 2010 at 10.00am Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Public
10.05 am – 11.00 am (approx)
Implications of the Spending Review 2011/12 – 2014/15
Witnesses: Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division, DFP Joanne McBurney, Central Expenditure Division, DFP
11.00 am – 12.00 pm (approx)
Spending Review & Budget 2010
Witnesses: Professor David Heald, University of Aberdeen
12.00 pm – 12.45 pm (approx)
Delivering Public Services in a time of Austerity: Evidence from Confederation of British Industry
Witnesses: Nigel Smyth, Director, Confederation of British Industry Terence Brannigan, Chairman, Confederation of British Industry
13.00 pm – 13.40 pm (approx)
Industrial Derating – DFP Evidence Session
Witnesses: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, DFP Veronica Holland, Rating Policy Division, DFP
Committee for Employment and Learning
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
10:00 a.m. PUBLIC SESSION
10:00 a.m. (TBC) Employment No.2 Bill: Briefing from the Law Centre
In attendance:
· Liz Griffiths
· Karen Mercer
· Daire Murphy
Click here to view agenda in full
Committee for Regional Development
Wednesday, 3rd November 2010 at 10.30amRoom 30, Parliament Buildings
10.40 am – 11.40 am Closed session
Transport Bill: Consideration of evidence received to date.
12.10 pm - 12.40 pm Open session
Review of IMTAC: Departmental briefing. (Jenny Pyper, Alan Preston and Gavin Hamilton - DRD Officials)
Click here to view agenda in full
Committee for Education
Wednesday, 3 November 2010 at 2.00pm
The Education (School Development Plans) Regulations (NI) 2010
Witnesses:
Katrina Godfrey – Director of Curriculum, Qualifications and Standards
Lisa Boal – Standards and Improvement Team
Briefing on the Autism Bill
3.00pm - 4.00pm
Witnesses:
Dominic Bradley MLA
Arlene Cassidy – Secretariat for APGA
Public Accounts Committee
Thursday 4 November 2010
From 3.00pm onwards: Closed Session
· Issues arising from the oral evidence session on NIAO report ‘The Administration and Management of the Disability Living Allowance Reconsideration and Appeals Process’
· Consideration of Report on The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow-up Report
· Consideration of Report on Measuring the Performance of Northern Ireland Water
Witnesses:
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Joe Campbell, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Brandon McMaster, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr David Murdie, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Sean McKay, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Eddie Bradley, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Roger McCance, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Mr Paul Craig, Northern Ireland Audit Office
Click here to read agenda in full
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Thursday, 4 November 2010Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont
START 2.00pm
Public Session
Assembly Research Briefing on the management structures of Health & Social Care Trusts
Click here to read agenda in full
D. Written Answers to Questions, Week Ending 29 October 2010
Department of Education
Transport Policy
Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Education if and when a comprehensive review of her Department's transport policy will be carried out and when the results will be published.
(AQW 1330/11)
>>Read answer in full
Department for Employment and Learning
Access to University Education for People with a Disability
Mr G Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he intends to ensure that people with a disability maintain access to university education despite budgetary restraints on his Department.
(AQW 1262/11)
>>Read answer in full
First Minister and deputy First Minister: The primary focus of this review is to examine the efficacy of the current arrangements in delivering the necessary services.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Occupational Therapists
Lord Morrow asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 545/11, to provide the requested information in relation to the number of people on the waiting list for assessment by an Occupational Therapist in the format in which it is available.
(AQW 1181/11)
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: At 3rd September 2010, there were 5,359 patients waiting from referral for treatment by an Occupational Therapist.
Supported Living Accommodation
Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for a breakdown of the provision of Supported Living Accommodation for people with severe mental health conditions in (i) each Health and Social Care Trust; and (ii) each District Council.
(AQW 1303/11)
>>Read answer in full
Review of Support Provision for Carers
Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the implementation of the recommendations in the Review of Support Provision for Carers, which was carried out in conjunction with the Minister for Social Development.
(AQW 1315/11)
>>Read answer in full
Department for Social Development
Social Housing
Mr A Maskey asked the Minister for Social Development if and when he intends to introduce a developer contribution as an option to acquire additional social housing.
(AQO 348/11)
>>Read answer in full
E. Useful Information
Danny Kennedy MLA has been appointed new Minister for Employment and Learning.
Also John McAllister MLA will replace Danny Kennedy as Deputy Leader of UUP.
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