Paula Bradley
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I am especially grateful to all the women who, especially in my first mandate here, were a constant support and encouragement to me as a new MLA. Nothing ever prepares you for this role, but many inside and outside this Building are the glue that holds it all together.”
“I thank them for their support, especially over the last week, with the phone calls, emails, cards and flowers, but, most of all, for allowing me to be part of their lives, sometimes at the most difficult times. Secondly, I want to thank my party, of which I have been a member for 20 years.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will try my very best to get through these three minutes without tears in my eyes, though I doubt that that is going to happen. <BR /> <BR />I will begin by thanking you, Mr Speaker.”
“After much discussion with officials concerning the objectives of the Bill, the detail of an SMI loan, the process of registering and removing the statutory charge and how and when an SMI loan is repaid, the Committee was content with the Bill as drafted. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill.”
“I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. It is probably the shortest Bill that the Committee considered, but it is no less important, as it aims to protect owner-occupiers in receipt of an income-related benefit from the threat of repossession.”
“I know that I have caused a few headaches over the past two years, but you have always delivered week in, week out and put the needs of the Committee first and foremost. You have made my role as Committee Chair so much easier. For all that you have done, I am truly thankful.”
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“I know that this was emergency funding, established in 2008. Really, at this stage, we should not be looking at emergency funding, as more concrete funding should be put in place. We know that the absence of this funding will result in the loss of 88,000 two-hour childcare places and the loss of 33 full-time and 29 part-time jobs in the women's sector.”
“I thank the Member very much. I think that she was mind reading as to what I was going to come on to next. For me and for many of us, that is an extremely important issue. I will just finish on the issue of homelessness. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for Social Development has had various briefings about homelessness and the issue of wet and dry hostels, with there being no bed availability. That happens on most occasions and on most evenings across all our hostels in Northern Ireland. That is another issue under Supporting People and housing. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member across the way, Mrs Kelly, for bringing up the women's centre childcare fund. I know that the Minister looked at that very seriously when he was the Social Development Minister and applied to the Finance Minister for funding for that.”
“I am glad that, in your position as Social Development Minister, you undertook to endeavour to make a difference with that. I hope that that will continue in your new position as Finance Minister.”
“Minister, when you came into the Department for Social Development — this is all getting very confusing, with you being our past Minister for Social Development — you made a commitment to the House to be a champion for Supporting People, and I have to say that you have fulfilled that. <BR /> <BR />You will remember that, just before Christmas, you and I attended an event in Belfast City Council that was run by the Patient Client Council and that looked at homelessness and access to health in homelessness, among other things. You and I both spoke at that event, and we heard the real-life, brutal truth of what it was like to be homeless in Northern Ireland and the effects that that has on many of our citizens. We heard about the neglect of health and about prostitution. There are so many facets when it comes to homelessness.”
“That has been a major issue in many of our estates, especially in the estates beside me in Rathcoole and Queens Park. There has been neglect there, and those people are in need of input to make their houses fit to live in. I hope that the Minister will address that issue when we look at housing. The area that I grew up in, that I live in and that I represent in North Belfast has seen no affordable homes being built since 1972. That is such a long time for the people of Glengormley. They have had a waiting list for all those years, but that has not been addressed. I hope that the Minister will address and look at that. <BR /> <BR />The next issue that I want to talk about is Supporting People. From sitting on the Committee, I know that the Supporting People funding was protected up until now.”
“<BR /> <BR />The first item that I turn to is housing. Much has been done in this mandate to look at what was a clear neglect of social and affordable housing in previous years. We have come some way, but we really have not come far enough. This morning, the Social Development Minister, Lord Morrow, made a statement to the House. He was asked a question about housing need by a Member who represents Strabane and, in his answer, he mentioned that there are 40,000 people on the waiting list, with half of those in housing stress. That is absolutely diabolical. I am an MLA for North Belfast, which is one of the areas that is in need of housing investment, and probably 70% of the work that comes through my office is from people who are looking for rehousing or who are homeless. <BR /> <BR />There is also the issue of housing conditions.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have to get away from saying "DSD", so I will address my comments today to the Department for Communities, which is a really exciting new Department that we in the Assembly have ahead of us. I said that my comments will be specific to the Department for Communities, but we know that many issues in that Department will have an adverse, knock-on effect on many other things. The Department for Communities encompasses so many social issues to do with housing, housing conditions, Supporting People, welfare reform, funding for advice, neighbourhood renewal and the social fund. We know that a lot of those have a knock-on effect on health, employment and education. That is why I would like to see an indication within the Budget that the Minister is most definitely supporting the most vulnerable within our community.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak in the Budget debate today. First, I congratulate Minister Storey on his new position. I am sure that he can think of nothing better to be doing on a Tuesday afternoon than being here for the Budget debate. <BR /> <BR />There is an old saying that my family quotes, and I have heard a few Members do so in the Chamber as well. Sometimes, when I get a wee bit above myself, my mother will say, "Don't forget where you come from". That is what I am telling you as I talk today about the Department for Communities and DSD, because I do not want you to forget where you have come from. When you were Minister for Social Development — the Chair of the Committee has already commented on it — you worked very well with the Committee and had a very good understanding of the needs in that Department.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I also wish him well. I believe that this is the first time in this mandate that he has come to the House as Minister for Social Development. I look forward to working with him. <BR /> <BR />I understand that he was not present at the meeting and that it was attended by his predecessor, but can he tell us why the meeting focused on policy interventions to fund housing initiatives?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for his answer. He has partially answered what I was going to ask next. I welcome that, and it is good to see that we have that in place. We still have the worst part of the winter to come and we know that problems will arise. How often does this task force meet? Does it meet regularly to discuss updates?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer. The junior Minister will know how the uncertainty over the introduction of welfare reform and the wreckage that was the ESF affected the women's sector and the women's lobby. Does she agree that we need to be doing everything within our power to empower parents, especially women, to get back into the workplace and to continue with education, because that will have a great knock-on effect on our economy as well?”
“I welcome the Bill, and I hope that it addresses the issues that tenants face and, more importantly, that it gives those tenants protection, which I feel is the crux of the Bill. I support the Bill.”
“I note that, in Part 2 of the Bill, which is the licensing part that the Minister has gone into in detail, councils and planners will have the powers to ensure that over-provision does not occur in any one condensed area. Given some of the problems that have happened in the past in south Belfast, which the Deputy Chair has outlined, that has to be very welcomed. <BR /> <BR />As this is a debate on the general principles, I do not intend repeating what the Deputy Chair or Minister have said, but I will say that I endorse the remarks that the Deputy Chair has made, and I welcome the Minister's comments on amendments. I agree with the Deputy Chair when I say that this has to be robustly scrutinised, and I look forward to it coming back at Consideration Stage.”
“I support the general principles of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill at Second Stage. The Bill will endeavour to better regulate HMOs by introducing a system of licensing and new provisions about standards of housing. As a representative for North Belfast, I see an ever-changing social demography. Those changes, along with other factors, have led to an increase in demand for HMOs as an affordable housing option in the rental sector. It is therefore important that we get the BiIl right, as many who rent in the sector have vulnerabilities of some kind, should that be age group, ethnicity or income. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is also of specific importance to me as a North Belfast representative, looking towards the future of housing for the students of the Ulster University and the concerns of nearby residents.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary. The secretariat gender action plan working group has considered the findings and research of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee's review of women in politics and the Northern Ireland Assembly to identify any overlapping issues, specifically where such issues may affect secretariat staff. The gender action implementation group will continue to follow progress on the AERC review, and the action plan contains a specific action to bring AERC recommendations to the women in politics working group and advise the gender action plan implementation group of any potential impact on secretariat staff.”
“The draft action plan is available on the Assembly intranet.”
“I thank the Member for her question. A draft gender action plan for secretariat staff has been developed by the gender action plan working group, which comprises senior staff from across the Assembly. The draft action plan sets out a range of actions and measures to promote gender equality in the Assembly secretariat. It is a cross-directorate plan that covers the entire organisation for the two-year period 2016-18. The action plan also supports the Assembly in complying with its section 75 duties. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission considered the draft plan at its meeting on 4 November 2015 and has approved it for staff consultation. The action plan was issued for consultation on 12 November 2015. The consultation will close on Friday 8 January 2016. A copy of the draft action plan has been sent to the Equality Commission for comment.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Again, you need to speak to your Assembly Commission member, as that would have to be dealt with and decided on by the Commission. I understand his sentiments entirely, and I can say that I probably would support that.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary. The official tour script provided by the Northern Ireland Assembly tour guides was approved by the Assembly Commission in 2001. I suggest to the Member that he speak to his Commission member about other issues that he might have.”
“I thank the Member for his question. In the official tour script provided by the Northern Ireland Assembly tour guides, reference is made to a range of architectural features, including the statue and tomb of Lord Craigavon. Currently, no reference is made during regular public or private guided tours to the memorials to former Members murdered by paramilitary organisations. However, during public and private tours, visitors are encouraged by guides to ask questions, and they may, on occasion, ask about the wall memorials in the Senate and Assembly Chamber Rotundas.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I wholeheartedly agree, as does the Commission, that we need to be engaging our young people with the Assembly and how we operate within it as much as possible. I am glad he mentioned the inaugural sitting of the Northern Ireland Youth Congress tomorrow, at which I, like other Members, will be present. We should be doing everything within our power to keep that engagement with our young people.”
“In 2014-15, five such events were held, each of which involved about 100 young people from different schools and neighbouring constituencies.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Education Service is further engaging young people in the work of the Assembly through its Connections project, which aims to promote dialogue between decision-makers and young people. Financed by the European funding stream, Erasmus+, the project is running between February 2015 and January 2016 and involves 36 participants aged between 16 and 18. The group will have the opportunity to deliver primary research findings to Assembly Committees in early 2016. Plans are under way to apply for further funding for similar projects involving other legislatures. <BR /> <BR />The Education Service’s series of Let’s Talk events around Northern Ireland brings together young people and their MLAs.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Initially, a budget of £100,000 was allocated to develop a Youth Assembly in 2014-15. However, because of financial constraints, the project was put on hold and consideration was given to other ways of engaging with young people. <BR /> <BR />The Education Service continues to work with schools and the youth sector to increase young people’s understanding of the work of the Assembly and encourage their engagement with that work. Significantly, the Education Service has been working with Assembly Committees to consult young people about a range of legislation and inquiries, such as shared and integrated education, the Together: Building a United Community strategy, the Road Traffic Bills and proposals for a new law on bullying in schools.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to comment on the agreement reached on the £240 million for working tax credits. I know, as we all know here, that this will affect our nurses, our healthcare assistants and the people who work in our hairdressers, dentists and butchers. All along all our streets in Northern Ireland, they are the people who will benefit from this. It is vital that I put that in. <BR /> <BR />In finishing, I ask that all parties around the Chamber put aside their differences and what has happened during the talks over recent weeks. Instead, consider the impact on those in the welfare system and on our constituents who have felt the effects of nothing being done, and consider how that has manifested itself across all Departments. I support the legislative consent motion.”
“That is what so many people on welfare benefits face every day. <BR /> <BR />In another vein, I am old enough to have been a parent when family credit came in. What a difference that made to my life. What a difference it made to my children's lives. The difference in their birthdays, Christmases and any holidays that we had was because I was a working mother getting assistance through working tax credits. I want to commend not only my party but other parties in the Chamber that, at Westminster and in the House of Lords, voted against the Conservative cuts to tax credits. I, as a working mother, like many other working mothers and fathers out there, know just how much they benefit us and how much that benefits the economy. I welcome that and say well done to them.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to digress ever so slightly, if you will give me your permission, Mr Speaker, because I want to bring into the debate the issue of tax credits. Perhaps, you will allow me to explain why. Of course, I will respect your judgement should you ask me to go off the subject. As many Members will know, I was a single parent very soon after having my children. I was also a working mother, and I worked extremely hard to pay a mortgage and keep a roof over our heads. I remember working with many people who, like me, were in receipt of child benefit. I used to envy those who told me that they put away their child benefit to pay for a holiday or spending money, for their children going to university or to buy them their first car. I could not wait to get my child benefit every month just to put money in the electric meter.”
“I ask them to remember that the legislation deals with a high number of our constituents whom we have vowed to represent and who, for some time, have been living with the unknown as to how their future will be affected. <BR /> <BR />I find it quite strange today to be speaking about welfare reform but not seeing Mr Mickey Brady's face across the Chamber. Mr Brady, when debating welfare reform — he talked quite a bit about the subject — never mentioned the word "benefits". I totally agree with his not mentioning it, because, when we think of benefits, we conjure up an image of advantage, a better life and something that makes life more comfortable. That is not what the benefits system is about, and it certainly does not do that.”
“Thankfully, those voices were instrumental in shaping the Welfare Reform Bill that is tailored to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />In preparation for the debate, I looked back at the contributions from all parties in the Assembly. No party in the Chamber has the monopoly on representing the vulnerable, and there is no party that does not agree with the general principles of the Bill, yet it has proven to be one of the most contentious pieces of legislation that the Assembly has had to deal with. Possibly, some in the Chamber today will make jibes in an attempt to politically grandstand and electioneer on the decision to allow Westminster to legislate.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on the legislative consent motion. It is not my intention to repeat the many arguments for and against the impact of welfare reform. Indeed, this piece of legislation has been scrutinised and debated to the nth degree, not only in the Committee for Social Development but in the Chamber. It has also been scrutinised in the many churches, community groups and civic buildings up and down the country. I cannot say that I look back with the fondest of memories to some of the many evenings spent in venues across Northern Ireland, listening to the concerns of individuals, the voluntary and community sector and, most importantly for me, the women's lobby.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I was recently at a meeting with Helm Housing in Rathcoole housing estate, looking at a new development there, and some of the issues that were brought up were around social clauses and apprenticeships. They had been working with Northern Regional College to try to address some of those issues, and they found that quite problematic. I just want to ask for your assessment of the further education colleges' placements in construction sites. How good has that been to date, and how can that be improved upon?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. She will be aware that we have in and around 600 bands, which are made up of around 20,000 people who are learning to play musical instruments. Some of those are in our area, some are in deprived areas and some are in the rural community. It has been a great resource for progression: some of those people make professional careers from music. Will the Minister reinforce once again that this will be looked at in future? These are not just marching bands: these are future musicians from Northern Ireland.”
“In his answer to Mr Kelly, the Minister mentioned consultation with Belfast City Council. Does he know what its position on the Northside development is at this stage?”
“I thank the Acting First Minister for her answer. I welcome the fact that there seem to be advancements in north Belfast. Will the Acting First Minister give a commitment that the money promised by the Executive for the social investment fund will be ring-fenced to bring about that much-needed change in our most disadvantaged communities, not least north Belfast?”
“I believe that we, as an Assembly, have worked hard to get to the stage we are at with the reform and restructuring of the Housing Executive. I believe there is still a role for the Committee to look further at faults that have occurred, to recognise those faults and to do something about them, but I do not think that we should be calling for the motion as it sits today.”
“In bringing forward the motion, there do not seem to be any strong proposals on what Members want us to put in place. As a constituency MLA, I, along with everyone else in the Chamber, know about the situation. There is no party or person in the Chamber who does not represent the vulnerable in their community. I think Mr Douglas brought up the point. Daily, or, at least, weekly, someone enters our offices with a housing problem. The majority of those who come into my office are homeless and are having to present as homeless. So, we know the level of need that is out there for good, sustainable, effective housing for the people we represent. <BR /> <BR />I understand the issues. In his proposal, Mr McCann also said that the changes taking place within the Housing Executive should be politically driven.”
“There are things that we will, maybe, never see eye to eye on, but we do work together. I understand. He brought up issues, some of which are very close to my heart. He talked about homelessness and how the new structures are going to affect that. Yes, I believe that we, as a Committee, need to scrutinise and look at that further, because I believe that we still have a big black hole in our plans when it comes to homelessness. One of the first decisions the Social Development Minister made when he was appointed to his position was to ring-fence Supporting People, although I do not believe that that goes far enough in supporting our homeless in Northern Ireland. Maybe we need to look at something a little bit more innovative. <BR /> <BR />I picked up different points from Members.”
“It was over two and a half years ago that the then Minister, Nelson McCausland, addressed the Assembly with a statement in which he outlined the changes in structure that were required for a more sustainable social housing market that would benefit tenants and taxpayers. In a statement at that time, he made it very clear that the Housing Executive reform was not about abolishing the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but was about improvement in the delivery of its functions. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the Social Development Committee works very well together when it is discussing issues that affect our constituents. When proposing the motion, Mr McCann talked about working together. I think that we have that within the Committee; we work together on many things.”
“No other part of the United Kingdom or, indeed, the Republic of Ireland has had to face the same pressures as our Housing Executive. Mr Attwood tried to paint a picture that all members of the DUP are against the Housing Executive, and he was quite surprised by my colleague Mr Douglas's comments. I find Mr Attwood's assertion quite unbelievable because I would also make such comments. Like Mr Dickson, I grew up on a housing estate. I am very proud to say that and very proud of my roots in living in that housing estate, so I have a connection. <BR /> <BR />Over the years, we have come to recognise that there is a need for significant change not only in how the Housing Executive is structured and but in the delivery of our social housing programme.”
“Along with other Members, I am somewhat bemused as to why the motion has been brought forward at this time, albeit I understand a lot of the sentiments that lie behind it. I know that it was recognised, even in the last mandate of the Assembly, that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was going to face huge financial challenges over the years ahead if some reform did not take place. Mr McCann, along with others, spoke about the 2011 PwC report and its review of the Housing Executive. <BR /> <BR />I am sorry to see that Mr Attwood has disappeared from the Chamber because I join my colleague, along with other Members, in commending the Housing Executive. It worked in Northern Ireland for over 40 years, during the most difficult times.”
“Pensioner poverty is certainly to the fore and is being debated day and daily not only in the Chamber but throughout the media. We need to encourage everyone, when possible, to plan financially for their future. <BR /> <BR />I support the Second Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />I would just make one point to the Minister. I believe that, even with this Bill and other legislation that we have in place, we are certainly not doing enough to address pension provision for those who are on low incomes or in part-time work. As most of us in this Chamber will know, the majority of people who are in part-time work and, therefore, on low incomes, are women. Albeit we can certainly take out our own private pensions, women are most definitely disproportionately affected when it comes to employer contributions. We need to be mindful of that and address it.”
“I remember reading that and thinking that it was the most hilarious thing that I had ever come across; that, at 18 years old, I needed to start preparing for my retirement. Now, almost — not quite, but almost — 30 years down the line, I find that it is not such a hilarity any more. I am glad that I worked for a responsible employer then that did offer a very good occupational pension scheme. That has now almost become a thing of the past. Actually, opening up that conversation at 18 years old and discussing pensions with my colleagues and peer group around me certainly did bring the reality home that I needed to start planning for my future. As I said, with occupational pensions becoming a thing of the past, we need to do everything within our power to improve pension schemes that operate for employees at present.”
“I do not intend to repeat anything that either the Minister or the Committee Chair has said. I intend to keep my comments brief. I do not claim to be an expert on pensions, although having read through the Bill and other information that has been made available to us, from my reading, it seeks to bring greater shared responsibility between employers and employees, which, in turn, will lead to better outcomes for future pension provision. <BR /> <BR />Earlier, the Minister mentioned that his own pension date is looming not too far away in the future. When I was preparing for this debate, I remembered very acutely being approached at 18 years of age by the company that I worked for then to sign my occupational pension forms.”
“At this stage, I will be very brief. I do not believe that I need to go into any great detail as the Minister and the Chair have already set out in detail why the Minister is asking for accelerated passage. I welcome the fact that the Minister said that he does not intend this to set a precedent for future Bills and that the accelerated passage procedure should be the exception rather than the norm. I believe that he will be absolutely true to his word on that. <BR /> <BR />I will say a little more in our next debate. For the time being, I support accelerated passage.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. He will be aware of the recent announcement by RLC, which is based at Global Point in Newtownabbey. Will he outline whether he is working with that company to look at getting more people, at all levels, into STEM subjects so that we can grow that and produce more workers for that business?”
“I apologise to the Minister. I was talking to his party colleague earlier when I should have been listening. My question is also on the issue of STEM. It seems that today is the day for discussion of STEM. My question is more to do with our further education colleges and the people whom I represent. Some have lower attainment levels but are still interested in those subjects.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In the same vein to do with further education colleges — the Minister might have partly answered this earlier — with the transfer of community development and urban regeneration to councils next year, how does the Minister believe that colleges can collaborate with our local councils to tackle underachievement and low educational standards in their areas?”
“We have a moral duty to accept the Bill, with the supplementary payment scheme, as agreed. We have to step up to the mark and be leaders to protect the most vulnerable.”
“<BR /> <BR />I believe that the supplementary payment scheme in the Stormont Castle agreement will protect those whom the system is designed to help, while those who are capable of supporting themselves will find added impetus to do so. We have invested so much in providing jobs and training that people should not have an excuse for being able to do nothing. When I was growing up, the mantra was that if you were not earning you were learning. This is not a witch-hunt but a wake-up call. If we do not pass the Bill, we could see a collapse of our institution and a possible return to direct rule, which will mean that welfare reform will be brought in as it has in the rest of the United Kingdom, with no protection for those with disabilities, those who are ill and those with children.”