Mervyn Storey
North Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It will be noted that there are those who cry much about the environment and purport to be the champions of the environment who did not have the courtesy to come to the House and be present when the statement was being made.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Clearly, there are some in the House who want to continue with the same old, same old and get the same outcomes at a huge cost to the public purse and to farms in Northern Ireland. The Minister is absolutely right: it is a scourge.”
“I am sure that the Minister will be aware, having listened to the Member who spoke before me, that the farmers of North Antrim will make an informed choice about who best supported farmers during this mandate of the Assembly.”
“A pilot scheme has been operating with the Education Authority, the PSNI and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust across 60 schools in the south Down area since September 2021 and was extended to a further 77 schools in the Newry and south Armagh areas at the start of February 2022.”
“As Chair of the Justice Committee, I am pleased to welcome the motion. It implements the provisions taken forward by the Committee in the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 to establish an Operation Encompass model in Northern Ireland, which is, as the Minister has outlined, a police and early intervention pa…”
“We had our final meeting of that Committee this morning, and I want to place on the public record our appreciation and thanks to our Committee staff of for all the work that they have done.”
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“That mirrors the LSOC power and will allow the society to extract the information requested by the LSOC from its members. Amendment Nos 6 and 7 make consequential amendments to clause 29 related to amendment No 5. Taken together, I am satisfied that these amendments will add value to the Bill. I acknowledge the work of the Committee in drawing out the points that I have just discussed. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 is a stand-alone amendment relating to the privilege afforded to the LSOC in relation to publications. The Bill, as drafted, afforded an absolute privilege to such publications. The Committee highlighted the concerns raised during its evidence-taking in relation to that and directed the Department to the equivalent provision in the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007.”
“<BR /> <BR />Having the power for the LSOC in isolation would also pose problems for the Law Society. The Bar is in a different position; complaints at first instance will still be made with the input of the Bar Council. Therefore, there should be no difficulty in the Bar being able to compile information in the form that the LSOC may specify. However, the society is faced with hundreds of firms of solicitors, all with their own internal complaints systems. It requires the power to retrieve the information directly from them. Amendment No 5 does that by ensuring that the society must make regulations requiring every solicitor to provide the Law Society with such information about the number of relevant complaints made in relation to that solicitor as may be specified.”
“Amendment No 13 is a technical amendment to schedule 1, which assists this particular amendment. <BR /> <BR />In tandem with the duty to report, I turn now to amendment No 1, which outlines the power that the LSOC will have to compile this information. The amendment will specify that the LSOC has the power to require the professional bodies to provide information in relation to the number of complaints made against the members of the body as may be specified. That form of words is neater and will, for example, allow the LSOC to gain a more meaningful insight into the number and types of complaints being made at the first tier. A simple numbers game may be misleading, so I have included scope for broader information to be sought from the professional bodies.”
“My officials have worked closely with the Committee and its staff in reaching a consensus, and I welcome that interaction. <BR /> <BR />The amendments taken together will achieve that aim. I will start with amendment No 14. The Committee wanted to see the LSOC submit an annual report in which the number of complaints against lawyers would be recorded. I initially felt that that could be catered for in the general reporting powers in schedule 1, but I have been persuaded to set it out more directly. The amendment will place a duty on the LSOC, without prejudice to the generality of the powers to report in schedule 1, to include in the annual report information relating to the number of complaints made in relation to the members of the relevant professional bodies during the year to which the report relates.”
“I know that Committee members felt that this was important information, and almost all witnesses were pressed on the issue. <BR /> <BR />My Department’s initial thoughts on the matter were that the powers available to the Legal Services Oversight Commissioner were sufficient to enable such information to be gathered using the broad powers of that postholder at clause 2. I am also mindful of the views of the Lay Observer, who questioned whether a requirement to register and record every complaint could lead to a bureaucratic result. However, on balance, I am content to support the view that the Committee’s aim, which is to attempt to gain a definitive and accurate picture of the number of complaints in this jurisdiction, is a valid one. I have, therefore, agreed to make a specific power in the Bill for this aim to be realised.”
“I am sure — indeed, the legal services review group, which did a 10-month study of this issue, found so — that this is mainly due to good service provided by professionals in that area. <BR /> <BR />However, a number of consultees identified that there could be a danger that the recorded numbers of complaints — complaints made to the Law Society and the Bar — could mask a higher number made to individual practices. That, as noted, is more acute in relation to solicitors who, by virtue of regulations made by the Law Society, have to set out an internal complaints handling policy to their clients. During the evidence sessions, it was learned that the society does not have a direct method of assessing how many complaints are made in-house and that no reliable statistics are recorded of such complaints.”
“That is an important issue for us to rehearse and repeat because, too often, we do not give credit to the working relationship between Departments and Ministers, when it is established, to ensure that we get a good and successful outcome for a Bill. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 1 ties in with amendment Nos 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14. With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I propose to deal with these together. They deal collectively with what has been termed first-tier complaints, which are complaints that are received in-house and are most relevant to solicitors. The Committee, during its work, came back time and time again to the issue of how secure the information was relating to first-tier complaints. Northern Ireland has had a historically low level of complaints against solicitors and barristers.”
“I want to start my remarks on the amendments by acknowledging the constructive work of the Committee for Finance and Personnel during its important scrutiny of the Bill. That work has been of great help and benefit, and I want to place on record my appreciation. That scrutiny highlighted that the general policy of the Bill was sound but identified some areas where improvements could be made to some of the detail and technical issues in the Bill. I welcome that engagement. The amendments that I move today have been drawn up working in harmony with the Committee and are a result of the important work that its members have carried out.”
“This Bill provides for new complaints handling processes for lawyers and enhanced oversight of the regulation, which, I believe, will aid consumers, bringing confidence to users of legal services and added transparency. The role of the proposed Legal Services Oversight Commissioner (LSOC) will be an important one going forward in this area.”
“The phrase "not fit for purpose" might be too strong, but I was concerned. We need to focus on certain areas. When organisations that are required to have a capital receipt against a particular asset face particular financial challenges, they end up focusing on the capital receipt as opposed to the community benefit. That is where, working with colleagues in the Executive and with other agencies, we can try to find a more acceptable way of delivering what I still believe is a valuable tool for government to have. There are many assets that can be transferred and make an invaluable contribution to communities.”
“That project will now, I believe, move ahead successfully and be of great benefit to that community.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He refers to an issue that, for me, has been an area of concern. I have been disappointed by the way in which the modalities of the community asset transfer process have worked. I have had a number of occasions to be concerned about the way in which it did not work. I have had discussions with some of the Member's colleagues about particular areas where issues have been raised. <BR /> <BR />I am reviewing community asset transfer because I believe that it needs to be more proactive. There has been an issue of some people not fully understanding what they have signed up to. In my constituency, had it not been for the work of the council, the asset transfer of Broughshane police station would not have come to fruition.”
“Yes. The other area that would be useful to place on record is, of course, my Department's support for The Young Foundation in doing some pilot social innovation work. This work supports people across communities and sectors to come together to create the social innovations needed to deliver that change. Through a co-creation process, they will identify, scope and prioritise. This is not a generational issue, but we still need to have a focus. As mentioned earlier by the First Minister when she took up office, it is about giving young people a sense of hope and a sense of place. These initiatives are a means, although not the ultimate place where we all want to be, of achieving benefit and progress.”
“My Department chairs a social innovation working group, the aim of which, in its initial phase, is to bring together the key policymakers and practitioners to identify areas where social innovation could make a difference and scope out the areas of activity that they want to continue to work in.”
“Innovation NI, the Northern Ireland Executive's innovation strategy, aims to deliver a vision for Northern Ireland by 2025. Northern Ireland will be recognised as an innovation hub and be one of the UK's leading high-growth, knowledge-based regions that embraces creativity and innovation at all levels of society. <BR /> <BR />The strategy also recognises the importance of social innovation: new ways of doing things or altogether new things that deliver social benefit. I concur with the Member that it is an important issue. Sometimes, there are those who are dismissive of having such a strategy, but I do not think that that is the case. It is something that we need to continue to improve and build on.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I know that he takes a particular interest in this in relation to the work that is done in his constituency through a number of organisations. In particular, one that comes to mind is the Resurgam Trust.”
“I want to ensure that what we do as we move forward in conjunction with my Executive colleagues is in the spirit of what has been agreed and can still deliver for the communities and families who have challenges when it comes to accessing the welfare system.”
“Obviously, that is an issue for the Executive. When we have receipt of the report and have worked our way through it, the Executive will be in a place to come to a definitive conclusion. I think that we have made progress in dealing with what was, in 2015, a very difficult situation. None of us wanted to be in the place we were in dealing with welfare. The Member knows well the history of all this. A year ago, we started the year trying to have a good news story about what came out of the Stormont House Agreement. Unfortunately, that then had its challenges. However, we have ended 2015 in a different place.”
“In 2016-17 — this is an important point — the Executive propose to allocate the £75 million for mitigating measures to address the impact of the welfare changes. In addition, in December 2015, the Minister of Finance and Personnel announced in the Assembly that £30 million of the money previously intended for the tax credit changes would be held in reserve to address the recommendations of Professor Evason's working group. At this time, the Executive are waiting for Professor Evason to complete her work, and we look forward to giving her report the proper consideration that it deserves.”
“I thank the Member for her question and wish her well in her recovery. <BR /> <BR />Maybe I could set the issue that she raises in some context. The Fresh Start Agreement set out the total amount of money that the Executive agreed could be made available to mitigate the impact of welfare reform and the Chancellor's announcement on tax credits in July 2015. The total amount of money was £585 million. Of that, £75 million was to be made available in 2016-17, with £150 million in each of the following years for welfare. The Executive proposed £60 million on tax credits in each of the four years covered by the Fresh Start Agreement. The Chancellor's decision not to proceed with the changes to tax credits clearly altered the position, with the need for mitigating measures not happening.”
“We are looking at what those may be, and I will be happy to inform the Member when we have come to a definitive answer on those issues.”
“The next group to arrive in Northern Ireland will come as part of the second wave of Syrian refugees to come to the United Kingdom under the vulnerable persons relocation scheme. The timing of that is not yet known. Our understanding is that our national Government wish to review the arrangements that have been put in place for the first wave of 1,000 Syrian refugees, who arrived just before Christmas, to learn lessons for future groups. The timing of the arrival of future groups will follow that review. At the minute, there is no definitive date, but, as I said in answer to the first part of the Member's question, I am very satisfied and, indeed, very pleased with the huge amount of effort and goodwill that was shown. It is an example that we can use. Are there lessons to learn? Yes, I am sure that there are.”
“I thank the Member, genuinely, for the comments that he makes. I know that he has raised legitimate issues on benefits and many other things, but he has done so in a way that has not been akin to some of the other very negative and, I have to say, deplorable comments that have been made. Some of those comments have been attributed to political representatives, and that is unfortunate and shameful. I am not aware, although the Member might be, of an issue of concern. I have had discussions with the police, and I have ongoing discussions with my colleagues in the Department, obviously, the Red Cross and others who have been involved. <BR /> <BR />The Member mentioned the next number of refugees who will come in.”
“It was an example of what can be done when a particular need is presented to us here in Northern Ireland.”
“I can tell the House that one of the interpreters who assisted us at the welcome centre said that he had worked at several similar locations in other parts of the United Kingdom and the quality of response in Northern Ireland was, by some distance, the best that had been seen. <BR /> <BR />On the Friday after their arrival, all the refugee families had been successfully settled into their new accommodation. I had the privilege of meeting the refugee families while they were at the welcome centre, and it was clear that they were very grateful for the kindness and support that had been shown to them by the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I conclude by placing on record my sincere appreciation to the other organisations that helped us during the process.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Obviously, the issue of the Syrian refugees who arrived in Northern Ireland was a very interesting topic of discussion prior to Christmas. I can confirm that a group of 51 Syrian refugees arrived in Northern Ireland on 15 December. I am happy to report that the plans that we put in place worked very effectively. The arrangements at the airport worked extremely well, and the refugees were taken through the necessary processes and transferred to the welcome centre without incident. The refugees stayed at the welcome centre in Belfast for three nights. During that time, they were helped through and provided with essential information and help that we believed it was important for them to have.”
“This is always an issue that we face in the House. Some Members are always critical of spending that amount of money, because it may not suit them politically to have to say that certain elements in society need that help. I am not referring to the Member, but it is an issue that continues to be under consideration. That is the only comfort that I can give to him. There may be a clearer picture by the end of next week or the beginning of the following week, when we have a settled budget position, but, at the moment, the next number of days are particularly challenging for me to ensure that I know exactly what the final line of my budget will be.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I give the assurance that we value the work that the SPOD funding did in terms of the contribution that it made. I face a particular challenge in relation to the budget. As with neighbourhood renewal, other funds such as Supporting People and all those things, those are decisions that I have to make. I assure the Member that good work was accomplished by that. In some cases, it was not a huge amount of money.”
“I have to work now with the new First Minister to ensure that we have a transition that, as far as possible, is not detrimental to the delivery of the service.”
“I thank the Member for that question. He is absolutely right. It needs to be remembered that, in terms of that fund, it was my Department that stepped in and, over the last number of years, gave funding in a way that has ensured continued delivery. I remain committed to that position. I indicated last year in terms of the Budget process that this would be the last year. However, given that we have an OFMDFM childcare strategy that will not come into operation until 2017, there is the issue of what we do in the interim. I assure the Member that that is an issue that I am particularly exercised about at the moment. Other Members have written to me in relation to it. It impinges on a number of constituencies. I am well aware of the issue in relation to his constituency of East Belfast and other places. It remains a priority for me.”
“There is a mixture of disappointment and, in some cases, relief; some local authorities believe that, because of the other challenges that they face in terms of having just been established and the considerable challenges around the new powers that they already have, the pause may be advantageous. It is my duty and responsibility to work with them to ensure that we do not lose out in a way that is detrimental to projects such as those that the Member referred to through neighbourhood renewal. That is my commitment, and that is the challenge that I have in the next number of weeks.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Councils were advised of the budgets anticipated to transfer to them had the Regeneration Bill successfully completed its legislative passage. However, as that is no longer the case, there will be no specific allocations to councils to deliver services to tackle deprivation in 2016-17. The responsibility remains with my Department. However, I rehearse what I said to the Member: over the next number of weeks, I will continue to have discussions with the local authorities so that I can go some way towards trying to alleviating their concerns. I am not naive; I recognise that there are concerns.”
“I was committed in 2015 to this issue, and I remain committed in 2016 for as long as I am in this post.”
“We worked extensively with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the community and voluntary sector and were able to make considerable progress, so the outcome was not as bad as had been originally envisaged. Unfortunately, I am in the same position and have had to ensure that I prioritise my budget. I have given commitments — I do it publicly again today — to programmes such as Supporting People. That is the right thing to do. Neighbourhood renewal and working with councils is a given, and I will continue to have discussions with them. Indeed I hope, before the end of February, to have again met all the local authorities and had discussions with them. Obviously, they have concerns around the pause in the transfer of functions.”
“I can confirm that the decision to transfer regeneration and community development powers to local government will ultimately rest with the Executive. The new Department for Communities will have a much wider range of responsibilities. In that context, it would be prudent to wait until the new functions have been assimilated into DFC. The Executive can then determine when any of those responsibilities would be best delivered at a local level. <BR /> <BR />I face a considerable challenge with a 5% to 6% reduction in my budget. However, the Member may recall that, when I came into office, I faced the same situation, particularly with neighbourhood renewal.”
“At this stage, I cannot give any commitment that any projects or programmes funded by my Department will continue at their current level, if indeed at all, from 1 April 2016. However, I am aware of the excellent relationships that have been built up between councils and departmental officials through the transition planning process, and, despite the delay in extending regeneration powers to councils, I anticipate that we will all continue to work together on delivering key services for the citizens of Northern Ireland.”
“Following my statement to the Assembly on 26 November, the Member will be aware of my decision not to proceed with the Regeneration Bill, with the result that my Department will continue to have operational responsibility for the delivery of urban regeneration and community development services across Northern Ireland. Organisations currently delivering services to neighbourhood renewal areas have been written to advising them of the position. <BR /> <BR />As you are aware, the Executive are again facing significant financial pressures, which are likely to result in reductions to my Department's budget. Those budget reductions will further limit the amount of funding that will be available through the programmes that my Department currently delivers.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We may have the opportunity to do this before the end of the mandate, but, just in case we do not — the ballot process means that a Member may not be selected — before I answer, I want to thank the Member for his contribution to the Assembly. He will be missed by his party and for the very distinctive way in which he makes his points. I have no doubt that today will be no different. I wish him well for the future. I would not want other events that took place in the Chamber today to overshadow my wanting to give my personal best wishes to Mr Dallat. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to the answer that he is looking for, which is more important.”
“My budget is under considerable pressure, but I look forward to working with our colleagues in local government as we roll out the schemes for the next financial year.”
“<BR /> <BR />That investment adds to a considerable commitment on the part of my Department, working in conjunction with the local authority, to enhance and improve the aesthetics of Armagh and the way in which the city continues to be a place that people want to visit and a place of which the local residents and the rest of Northern Ireland can be rightly proud. I pay tribute to all those who have helped us achieve that. <BR /> <BR />I have seen, from my visits to the city and to other places across Northern Ireland over the last year, the impact and the benefit that investing even a small amount of money can bring.”
“That included approximately £4 million towards the public realm improvements throughout the city centre; £92,000 towards the creation of a master plan to shape future development within the area; £431,000 towards the revitalisation schemes to sustain the city's vibrancy; £400,000 towards to the purchase of a development site to invigorate an important area of the city centre, namely The Mall West; and £265,000 by way of an urban development grant to assist with city centre investments.”
“How often have we come to this House and said that all politics is local? Given the year that we are in — 2016 — I suspect that we, as Ministers, will be asked similar questions more directly and pointedly over the next number of weeks. <BR /> <BR />In the past five years, my Department has invested approximately £5·3 million in support of city centre development in Armagh city.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition, DSD has delivered over 60 ReStore revitalisation projects in towns and cities across Northern Ireland through an investment that is in excess of £8 million, largely focusing on physical enhancements to shopfronts to help promote town centres and the independent retail sector, primarily. <BR /> <BR />My Department has also invested £10 million over the last five years to support our city centres within the Newry and Armagh constituency, using a range of regeneration measures to achieve that purpose. Those include comprehensive development, public realm improvements, revitalisation projects and urban development grants. It is well accepted that the economic benefits include job creation, the creation of new business opportunities and the facilitation or stimulation of private sector investment.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I firmly believe that our town and city centres play an important role in driving competitiveness and economic growth. <BR /> <BR />Over the past 10 years, my Department, working with a range of stakeholders, has sought to improve the viability and vitality of our city and town centres and has invested in excess of £83 million in more than 78 public realm schemes across Northern Ireland. My Department has funded numerous public realm improvement schemes in town and city centres over the past 10 years, ranging from the £28 million in phase 1 of the Belfast Streets Ahead project to more modest schemes, such as the £225,000 scheme in Dromore, County Down.”
“It also includes those who are threatened with homelessness, such as people who face eviction from their home.”
“The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a statutory responsibility to respond to homelessness. To be accepted as being statutorily homeless under the scheme, a number of factors are taken into account, as set out in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988. Applicants who are accepted as being statutorily homeless either have accommodation that is deemed to be inappropriate or have no accommodation available to them. <BR /> <BR />Homelessness, as I said in answer to the previous question that was asked by Mr McGlone, is a complex issue and is often characterised as being solely about rough sleeping when that is not the full picture. Homelessness figures also include people who are living in temporary accommodation or those who are living in inappropriate or overcrowded accommodation.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I welcome the opportunity to place on record, and in the public domain, what we mean by "statutorily homeless". We can use these phrases in such a way as to mask the reality in our communities.”
“The introduction of the landlord registration and tenancy deposit schemes has made the private rented sector a more attractive housing option. Tenants and prospective tenants can check whether a landlord is complying with the law and report them to their council for an enforcement action. <BR /> <BR />My Department recently launched a discussion paper on a review of the role and regulation of the private rented sector to make it more viable and attractive as a housing option. The closing date for responses is 5 February 2016.”
“We are always challenged in Government as to whether we have provided adequately in any set of circumstances. We have to, many times, respond on the basis of the resources available. However, when we come to deal with this issue, we have to stretch ourselves, given its nature. <BR /> <BR />Sometimes there is a misunderstanding of the definition of "homelessness", and we could touch on that. I want, however, to deal with the issue that the Member raised in relation to the private rented sector and how it has sought to address the issue by meeting housing need. The Member will be well aware that the private rented sector access scheme operated by Smartmove seeks to assist the more vulnerable with a rent deposit guarantee and with other housing management issues.”
“<BR /> <BR />While I am satisfied that the work that we do has a positive impact on the lives of many, I know that there is no room for complacency. Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a number of organisations to continue to work together to tackle it. I want to pay tribute, in conclusion, to the many organisations that, particularly over the Christmas period, have continued to work tirelessly to ensure that we make available the best possible provision to address what is a very challenging and difficult issue in our society.”