Carál Ní Chuilín
North Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“To continue the theme of undermining public confidence and public effectiveness, I ask you this, Minister: why do you and your DUP colleagues continue to block the 'good jobs' Bill, particularly the measures for parents whose babies require neonatal care and, indeed, other measures that will support workers who are struggling with the cos…”
“At the end of the day, guns were used to kill Catholics — Davy Payne; surface-to-air missiles in South Africa and Paris and then some. I will give the deputy First Minister another opportunity not to deflect but to condemn her party's involvement in Ulster Resistance and with the red berets that they wore.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. I have a close family relative who is in need of a SPiMS unit in an Irish-medium school but cannot access one in North Belfast at all. Apart from access in P4 and P5, they will have to go to an English-speaking school, even though Irish is their first language.”
“You mentioned some of the issues that are important: trade union representation, the banning of zero-hours contracts and employees being able to have their tips and service charges. Anyone who cannot get behind these proposals needs to be clear — concerns for some, and hiding behind the industry for others.”
“First Minister, I know that, recently, you were in Ardoyne for the sod cutting of the new £3·4 million purpose-built youth facility for Ardoyne Youth Enterprise. Further to your response to Brian Kingston, can you give us an update on that project and, indeed, any others?”
“I agree 100%, Linda. That is something that we all agree on. We met many people. The Bill was published and was based on the report of the truth recovery process.”
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“The honest answer is that I am not sure, but, when you look at security of tenure and standards, the key word for me is "standards". We need to look at the conditions that tenants live in and look at things like when the electricity was last checked and whether there is mould or damp. More than half of the population in the private rented sector receive housing benefit. Those are public funds, and, unfortunately, there is a better standard of homes in public housing than in private housing. That is not to say that private housing is bad; it is just that we have an obligation to ensure that tenants live in a safe, clean and proper environment. I will see what that review covered and will write to the Member and share it with the Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since the outbreak, Minister Hargey has put in place legislation to ensure that private tenants are protected from eviction during the COVID emergency. It requires landlords to give tenants a minimum of 12 weeks' notice to quit. At this time, it is vital that those who live in private rented accommodation are not forced out of their home. My Department has issued detailed guidance to landlords and tenants. I also commend the services of Housing Rights, which the Department funds to provide expert housing advice, mediation and guidance.”
“The role and regulation of the private rented sector is one of the Department's priorities and certainly one of mine. The Department's consultation exercise on proposals for change to the role and regulation of the private rented sector ended on 3 April 2017. To improve standards for the benefit of tenants and landlords, my Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of that sector's role and regulation. Areas included in the review are supply; affordability; security of tenure; tenancy management; property standards; and dispute resolution. Minister Hargey was considering how to take forward the recommendations of that review and what other measures may be necessary, including proposals that may warrant future legislation.”
“I know that holiday hunger is an issue close to the Member's heart. Just this morning, Minister Peter Weir and I discussed last week's announcement and what we could do, given that the school term ends on Tuesday 30 June. It was a good, productive meeting, and we are committed to trying to address food poverty in the form of holiday hunger. The Member will be aware through her role on the Education Committee that, in the short, medium and long term, we need to bring forward an anti-poverty strategy that does not just look at holiday hunger during COVID but tries to address it in the long term. The phrase "heat or eat" represents the experience of many, and we need to put our best foot forward to get this sorted once and for all. In the interim, we are looking at getting free school meal supplements to families.”
“There is also the increase in the use of food banks, with the Trussell Trust reporting a 142% increase in demand for its services here. Given those issues, my predecessor, Deirdre Hargey, agreed a package of medium-term measures to support people experiencing food poverty, including the introduction of some grant flexibility to allow grant-funded organisations to respond to coronavirus and £3·3 million of funding for food-related projects delivered under the neighbourhood renewal People and Place strategy.”
“I am committed to delivering long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty in all its forms, including food poverty. There is no doubt that pre-existing inequalities have been exacerbated during the pandemic. The increased need for food support is evidence of that. The extent of food poverty in our society has been underlined by the response to the access to food programme. One of the key elements of our emergency response during the current crisis has been the delivery of more than 150,000 food boxes to those in most need since my Department launched its COVID-19 food parcel service in April. Alongside that, allocations of £1·5 million in financial support to councils enabled a significant community response, with the majority of interventions relating to food.”
“The existing mitigation packages will continue. Collectively, as an Executive, we need to look at what additional support we can give to people who are really vulnerable, particularly those who are on benefits. We are still working our way through this. We will look at any potential that we have that will not have a massive impact on the budget, to help the people who need it most.”
“A lot of these will have been direct Barnett consequentials from DWP, and I think that everybody has recognised that the Executive have also found additional money and that DFC has spent it very well.”
“Other changes are changes to maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay as well as the coronavirus job retention scheme. The specific discretionary support scheme has been enhanced by introducing the living expenses grant to help those who find themselves in a financial crisis due to the impact of COVID. An increase in the discretionary support annual allowance income threshold to £20,405 will also ensure that more people on low incomes can access emergency financial support.”
“The immediate impact of these changes include increasing the amount payable under universal credit so that the average award will go up by approximately £90 a month, regulations to ensure that grants to self-employed people are appropriately treated in their universal credit award and temporary changes to statutory sick pay rules to ensure that support is available from day one for individuals who are sick, self-isolating or shielding. That also includes changes to the local housing allowance rates, which benefits private rented sector tenants. People in receipt of carer's allowance will continue to be paid the benefit even if they have temporarily ceased caring or because they have been affected by COVID themselves.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I am pleased to advise that my Department has moved quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to relieve hardship and ensure that the people who are in most need get the help and support that they need. This has included introducing measures to ensure that the social security system is more flexible and to reassure very vulnerable people about the continuity of their benefits. <BR /> <BR />In total, 16 sets of emergency regulations have been made in response to COVID-19.”
“I have absolutely no doubt that there will be a financial cost to that, but lessons learnt must be part of our post-COVID recovery.”
“I think that they have to be. I know that this is probably a well-worn phrase, but COVID-19 presented us all with challenges, and we were literally trying to deal with those as best as possible. In the past, local government has always stepped forward in emergencies. I cannot speak for your constituency, but I can certainly speak for Belfast and for what Belfast City Council has done during the global pandemic. In the Department for Communities, our support and appreciation for the work of local government has been well recorded, and I want to take the opportunity on behalf of us all to do that. We must learn lessons. We must work out what we did not do so well but would like to do better, and we must work out what we did well and would like to do more of.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also recognise that councils have unique community insight to reach grassroots groups and are really well placed to ensure that citizens receive as much help as possible. DFC has provided £1·5 million of additional community support funding, and this money is an initial tranche and more will follow. This is to provide assistance to those at risk due to financial stress, ensuring access to food for those in most need and helping to connect those living alone or living in rural areas, who are likely to experience greater challenges, and people from all walks of life. As I said, this is a step forward to help citizens to help neighbours with deliveries of food and medicines so that they can remain safely in their homes.”
“Despite the current COVID pandemic, councils continue to play a key role in delivering essential services, such as waste collection and disposal, community support and the provision of registration and cemetery services. All Members will be aware of the severe financial challenges that each of the councils are facing. The funding of £20·3 million from DFC will help to assist councils with their cash flow and support them in the delivery of the vital services that they are providing to the community at this time, but it will also help to ensure that they are ready to play their role in our post-pandemic recovery and limit the financial impact on ratepayers going forward.”
“Question 4? Just keeping you on your toes, Declan.”
“Fair enough. I appreciate that. I think that a lot of people will be asking for similar social supermarkets in their constituencies. In fact, most of us know of food banks and community and church support groups that have been instrumental throughout this crisis. What we have all learned from this is that we all need to pull together and work together. Providing food security for people is important but so is providing advice and guidance on areas such as debt management, mental health and employability. The Strategic Investment Board (SIB) did the review and evaluation, and that is being disseminated with a view to bringing more social supermarkets to many more constituencies.”
“The most common household profile has been that of lone parents. The evaluation also indicated that the programme is achieving significant outcomes for its users, with really good, positive impacts on well-being, healthy eating and food stability. <BR /> <BR />Additionally, the programme has provided a platform for collaboration. All five social supermarkets have connected with wider support networks to leverage their involvement. That includes my Department's Make the Call initiative, which ensures that individuals get access to all the benefits and support to which they may be entitled. The Member may be aware that my predecessor, Deirdre Hargey, decided to extend the pilot while a business case is undertaken to assess the case for rolling out a fuller programme.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The social supermarkets pilot programme has been running since October 2017, with five sites in operation. By the end of March this year, almost 120,000 people had received support through the programme, which redistributed148 tons of food. The model provides a more significant experience than a food bank. In addition, it provides people with a pathway out of poverty by supplementing food with access wrap-around services, including debt, budgeting and healthy eating advice, as well as training skills and other opportunities. <BR /> <BR />A roll-out evaluation of the pilot programme up until March of this year was completed and it indicated that support was reaching those who are particularly vulnerable with low income, debt obligations and high levels of unemployment.”
“The Member will appreciate that I am just coming into this role. I am happy to write to Museums NI. I am happy to get an update and better briefing. I am certainly happy for my officials to communicate with the society to ensure that, if there is potential, my officials, the museum's officials and the society can try to work something out, because the society has been there for 50 years, but I cannot make any further commitment, and I will not try to. The best I can do is try to get them together to see what comes out of that, and I will keep the Member informed.”
“This is, ultimately, an operational matter for the management of Museums NI to decide.”
“I thank the Member for his question. My officials have had contact with National Museums NI about that matter. Museums NI has recently reviewed the relationships with the Model Engineers' Society Northern Ireland, which had enjoyed access to the walled garden in the Transport Museum for over 50 years to operate its model engines. Museums NI is developing a master plan for the Cultra site, which will provide a better look at unlocking its potential to meet its long-term objectives. <BR /> <BR /> With those considerations in mind, Museums NI indicated to the Model Engineers' Society, in October 2019, that its continued use of the walled garden would not form part of future plans for the site. However, Museums NI has not yet given the society formal written notice to vacate.”
“The short answer is yes; I will absolutely continue the work that Deirdre Hargey started and will work with officials to do so. <BR /> <BR />I saw some of the social media commentary on advice from the very start of the crisis. Everyone possible, all the partnerships, have worked together and the advice sector has loomed large. It is important that we talk to the experts, learn lessons from the lived experience and try to adjust the services so that they go to those who are in need. We also need to listen to the experiences of those who are delivering the services to ensure that the services are effective and on the ground and that people get a better outcome. I am happy to meet the structural and independent advice sectors. Those at the grassroots who have been working throughout the crisis definitely need a hearing.”
“My Department continues to provide significant direct financial support of over £6·4 million per annum, which supports 360 jobs in the sector and delivers independent, community-based advice services to over 230,000 citizens.”
“Transition planning is now well under way to assist regional and grassroots organisations to return to normal business, whilst ensuring that those who have been affected by COVID-19 continue to receive much-needed support. <BR /> <BR />The community helpline will continue to connect the most vulnerable people to local support services through our stakeholders in the voluntary and community sector, and I have allocated additional funding to support that. Some £1·8 million of additional funding for debt-related advice will provide much-needed support to the individuals and small businesses that are experiencing financial problems due to coronavirus, and my officials are exploring options to ensure that that funding achieves the maximum impact.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It is a very good question. During the current crisis, the advice sector has been critical in assisting the most vulnerable people in our society and advice organisations across our community continue to deliver front-line support. I want to acknowledge that work and thank them for what they have delivered on the ground every day as we now move into a period in which restrictions are being eased. <BR /> <BR />I am committed to protecting those who are in most need across our society and access to community-based, independent advice services is critical in meeting that commitment. My officials have worked closely with regional and local front-line advice organisations on a co-design production approach to develop support mechanisms.”
“I thank the Chair and members of the Committee for the positive way in which they have dealt with the regulations. I appreciate the full support of the Assembly.”
“I am sure that all Members will warmly welcome the provisions.”
“of diagnosis and without the need to establish an occupational link or, indeed, any causative link. Therefore, provided that they have not already received a compensation payment from another source, people who suffer from this terrible disease are eligible for a payment, regardless of whether they were employees, self-employed, or, indeed, have never worked, as was the case with many family members who contracted the disease through cleaning asbestos-covered clothes. <BR /> <BR />For 2020-21, the amount payable, for example, to a person aged 37 or under at the time of diagnosis has increased from £92,259 to £93,827, the same maximum that can be paid under the 1979 scheme. <BR /> <BR />The regulations are to ensure that the compensation provided under the scheme maintains its value relative to inflation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Under the scheme, those who have been exposed to asbestos can claim a lump sum payment if they are not entitled to a payment under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979, known as the 1979 scheme, and who do not otherwise have a civil claim. The scheme provides financial help to persons diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma or, if the person has died, to their dependants within a matter of”
“The regulations are part of the annual uprating package, and they increase the compensation payable in the scheme under the Mesothelioma, etc., Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Unlike the main benefit uprating order, there is no explicit requirement to review the level of payments under this scheme each year. However, the regulations have increased the amounts payable under the scheme in line with the rate of inflation. The amounts payable under the scheme have been increased for 2020-21 by 1·7%, which mirrors the percentage increase of industrial injuries benefits and in the main uprating order.”
“I thank Members for their support at the Committee and in the debate. Like everybody, I look forward to passing the uprating order and regulations to ensure that those increases can be in people's purses and pockets.”
“<BR /> <BR />Therefore, I welcome Members' support for the uprating order and the consequential uprating regulations so that people here can continue to receive their increased rates.”
“As a result of the 2020 uprating package, in the region of an additional £171 million will be paid out by my Department to people here who are on social security benefits and pensions. That does not take into account the additional temporary increases and easements that were introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, about which Deirdre Hargey wrote to Members recently. I understand that we might want to do more for recipients of social security benefits and pensions, particularly in these unprecedented times. However, in relation to the annual uprating order, all that I can do is simply reiterate that my Department does not have the power to amend or adjust that uprating.”
“My Department has no power to increase the amounts of benefits either by different or greater amounts in annual uprating. The annual uprating order is the main statutory rule to provide for the increase in benefits rates. However, some technical provisions in relation to annual uprating are required to be made by regulations and, therefore, cannot be included in the order. <BR /> <BR />The debate encompasses the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020, which make some technical provisions that are required for the accurate implementation of the increased rates. The regulations are made as a consequence of the uprating order and also include an increase to the earnings limit for carers' allowance and an increase to the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes.”
“The growth in earnings is measured by the increase in average weekly earnings for the quarter that ended in the previous July. For this year's uprating, the relevant figure displayed an increase of 3·9%. Therefore, the basic state pension and the new state pension have been increased from April by 3·9%. The pension credit standard minimum guarantee has also been increased in line with average earnings at 3·9%.”
“The percentage increase is determined by the change in CPI in the 12 months up to the previous September, and CPI indicated as a positive growth of 1·7% for the period up to the end of September 2019. Therefore, the price index benefits have increased by 1·7%, and I am able to say that that includes working-age benefits, which had been frozen for four years as a result of welfare reform. <BR /> <BR />In addition to an increase in certain benefits in line with the increase in prices, commitment to the triple lock continues to apply to the basic and the new state pension. Those pension payments are increased in line with the highest growth of earnings, the growth in prices or at 2·5%.”
“The two rules form the main part of the annual up-rating package that increases the rate of social security benefits, pensions and lump sum payments. Uprating usually occurs each year around the beginning of the tax year, and the two rules came into operation from April 2020. <BR /> <BR />In relation to the annual uprating of benefits, the British Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required to undertake a review each year of the benefits in relation to the general levels of prices. That is measured by the consumer price index (CPI), which determines the amount by which various rates of benefit should be increased, thereby allowing benefit levels to maintain their value against inflation.”
“I am sure that Christopher and Deirdre will have heard the best wishes, which are genuine, and I wish them both well. I ask Members not to support the amendments that Mark has moved.”
“Those tenants, regardless of whether they are with a housing association or the Housing Executive, need to have the same protections as well. That is steadfast. I want to make that completely clear. If the legislation passes and there is any evidence that that is not the case, I will join him and others in ensuring that whoever is standing in this position is made aware of it and, what is more, does something about it. <BR /> <BR />For us as an Assembly, would we like to have dealt with this differently? Absolutely. I think that we can all agree on that. Would we like to have had an opportunity to scrutinise more? Absolutely. That was accentuated when we all got the report last week. People were rightly annoyed. We need to deal with that. <BR /> <BR />I thank everybody for their contributions.”
“However, I absolutely defend your right, and that of anybody else, to table them. <BR /> <BR />I have no doubt that we will come back to this point. Let me be clear to Gerry, who raised it. I do not think that anybody could describe anyone as supporting a Thatcherite policy in the right to buy and leaving people. I want to be clear. It was probably a political dig, and he has a right to do that, but I think that it is a bit churlish. Also churlish is the lack of knowledge about and experience of the fact that housing association and Housing Executive tenants have the same rights when it comes to allocation: it has to be done on the basis of objective need. That will not go away. That is in law and has to happen. I think that the Member is right to raise it.”
“I will, surely. The concern was not only about how it was reinvested. You may remember that, at some stage, there was discussion about investing in the maintenance programme for Housing Executive homes, because a lot of them are quite old. If you look at the Savills report, which we will deal with at Committee, you see that the bill for that is huge. I will say this to rural colleagues, even though they may think that I have a brass neck as I live on the New Lodge Road: I know that there is more fuel poverty in rural communities at times because houses are older, they are harder to heat and the efficiency is not what it would be with a new housing association house. Those families do not want to live in poverty. None of us wants that. <BR /> <BR />Mark, it will come as no surprise that I do not support the amendments.”
“Teenagers are growing up with no privacy. It is just horrible. None of us wants that on our watch.”
“Rachel Woods raised a question that I also want to know the answer to. I will try to find out exactly how many homes have been sold and how many have been built under the Housing Executive and housing associations. I will go further than that: I will try to find out which areas they have been built in. From memory, I know that they are not always built in areas with the highest demand, and that is the problem. <BR /> <BR />Andy Allen talked about systemic inequality, as did Martina Anderson and Sinéad Ennis. Everybody did. We are all coming at this with the view that we want to look after constituents. Let us be honest: while they are in housing stress, they are miserable. In my constituency, my neighbours on the New Lodge Road have three generations living under the one roof. It is a problem for people's mental health.”
“Reducing the expenditure to the public purse is one thing that we need to look at. That is why the Bill is so important. With £3 million a year and 45 houses a month, look at how many houses you could have at the end. That is the realm that we are talking about.”
“I do not think that anybody wants to hold things back. While Mark's concerns are right and it is right that they are raised, this is the wrong vehicle and the wrong avenue. It is something that we need to bring back. <BR /> <BR />Kellie Armstrong and other Members pointed out the concern about any potential knock-on. The Housing Executive's exemption should be from paying corporation tax. That was part of the negotiations; we all had concerns about that and raised it. I stand to be corrected but, from memory, it is around £13 million a year; that is quite a lot of money. We talk about the revitalisation or improvement of the Housing Executive, so we will have to look at that.”
“I will just remind people that Deirdre Hargey said at the Committee and as part of the debate on this that her next route would be to take forward legislation to close the gap for the Housing Executive and take the same phased approach to this scheme so that there is not a sudden shock for people who may want to buy their homes. You need to give people a lead-in period; that is compliant with good practice and guidance. <BR /> <BR />My other concern with your amendments, Mark — I am only here so you can roll your eyes if you want. I looked at the Bill and, instinctively, I thought that there is potential for legal challenge if your amendments to clause 7 are made. It would go outside the competence of the ONS criteria, and that would hold things back. When people talk about holding back, for me, that is what it looks like.”
“They encourage older people to buy their house and give them a couple of pounds. Those older people think that they will pass it on to their children and grandchildren and then, all of a sudden, they are homeless. They are sometimes allowed to stay and then you are paying housing benefit, which is twice the cost to the public purse and then some. <BR /> <BR />We all agree and have all said that the Housing Executive needs to be addressed in what we do next. Paula Bradley, the Committee Chair, also pointed out that there are concerns around potential inequalities.”
“For many of us, our first home or our current home is from a public housing authority or the Housing Executive. <BR /> <BR />We had debates here and, Mark, you and others will remember — I am going to say Fra McCann and passion in the same breath — Fra McCann's passionate plea around ending the right-to-buy scheme is still our position. This is something that, I think, we all agree on fundamentally but not many people spoke about it. Once those houses, be they housing association or Housing Executive houses, are sold under the right-to-buy scheme, they are never replaced. That is the problem. Andy, you are right that most people who buy their home under the right-to-buy scheme stay there. However, I think that it was Mark who spoke about the antics of some developers who are akin to vultures.”
“I know that the departmental officials are listening. I am going to bring that back because I do not think that it is acceptable, to be quite honest. I know that, if Deirdre Hargey was standing here, she would say the same thing. It is not acceptable. I will get you an explanation of what happened. Even if I do not like it and you do not like it, you will get it; we will be consistent on that. <BR /> <BR />This is in New Decade, New Approach and accelerated passage is needed. The deadline runs out on 31 March 2021. We are here to get legislative competence and also to stop £3 million a month from the public purse being used. That £3 million a month is equivalent to 45 social houses. I do not know anybody in the House who would be happy with that. Some of us more than others come from a background where we appreciate this.”