Deirdre Hargey
South Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“His double standards, including his condemnation of and opposition to equality and rights for our LGBTQ+ citizens, have caused real harm to others. The revelations about his double life expose the staggering hypocrisy of the DUP's moral facade. We need to know whether failing to act sooner left more vulnerable people at risk.”
“One week ago today, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences, including rape. That conviction was made possible only by the strength and resilience of the two victims who came forward and reported the abuse. Donaldson was an abuser. He abused children, but he also abused his position in politics and faith.”
“They now say that they knew about his behaviour, but, crucially, they did nothing to expose his inappropriate hypocrisy and double life. The 'Spotlight' programme and other reports have shown that senior members of the DUP — its most senior figures, including the then leader, Edwin Poots — were aware of serious issues and allegations abou…”
“It is therefore not credible to suggest that the intelligence agencies were blind to his compromised double standards and double life. <BR /> <BR />Those questions demand answers from the DUP leadership. They demand answers in the House from the deputy First Minister, who was closely associated with Donaldson.”
“It is clear that there is a huge disconnect between Whitehall and the reality that is being felt by people on the ground. A British Treasury policy that is managing decay, real-terms cuts and disastrous policy decisions such as Brexit or the funding of wars over public services comes on top of existing disparities between how public servi…”
“The answer is not the short-term fixes or cash injections that we have had in the past, which have allowed for the repeated Treasury script of record settlements and inability of the Executive to manage their finances — scripts that are often parroted in the Chamber.”
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“<BR /> <BR />No charges will be created over any properties until the necessary regulations have been made and come into operation. Once the regulations have been made and come into operation, any charge created by the regulations will be registrable in the Statutory Charges Register. It is not intended that the regulations will impose a statutory charge in respect of the past or future loan payments under an existing loan agreement for so long as they continue to be secured by an existing legal charge. <BR /> <BR />Once the change to primary legislation is commenced and subordinate legislation is amended, all new loans will be secured by statutory charge, which will be registered on the Statutory Charges Register.”
“Recipients have been notified of the possibility of a loan being secured by a statutory charge, as it is contained in the information booklet that is supplied to the person when they initially request a loan. It is also contained in the support for mortgage interest loan agreement that is signed by the person before a loan can be paid. In addition, my Department meets all administrative costs, which are considerably lower when a statutory charge is used. <BR /> <BR />The Bill contains two clauses, the first of which allows regulations to impose a charge on the property in respect of which a support for mortgage interest loan is made and provides for charges securing support for mortgage interest loans to be registrable in the Statutory Charges Register. The second clause deals with the commencement date and the short title of the Bill.”
“The remaining 868 loan recipients with a legal charge are not being treated equally to the 541 unsecured loan recipients. That could result in a legal challenge. The creation of a charge by the Bill will allow the Department to consider recovery of loans over all properties here, subject to there being sufficient equity in the property after a sale or transfer. If there is insufficient equity to repay the total of the loan, my Department will write off any amount that cannot be repaid. <BR /> <BR />The support for mortgage interest loan is not registered on the person's credit history and does not affect their credit history in any way. I must highlight that recipients of a support for mortgage interest loan will not experience any charge by the introduction of the Bill.”
“At the current average of £5,000 per loan, approximately £2·7 million of loans are unsecured.”
“This loan is only recoverable from any equity on the sale or transfer of ownership of the property or when the recipient dies. <BR /> <BR />If there is not sufficient equity to repay the total of the loan, the Department will write off any amount that cannot be repaid. The differences in land law between here and Britain meant that obtaining a similar level of security to consider recovery of the loans was difficult. At present, the legislation allows for a legal charge to be placed on properties where a loan under article 13 of the Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 has been paid. However, legal charges can only be placed against properties that are registered in the Land Registry. As it stands, 541 of the 1,409 outstanding loans do not have the security of a legal charge.”
“The Support for Mortgage Interest etc (Security for Loans) Bill gives my Department powers to make regulations to enable a statutory charge to be registered against a support for mortgage interest loan. This technical amendment ensures that my Department can meet its original policy intention to allow all support for mortgage interest loans to be secured and consider recovery of loans provided. <BR /> <BR />Homeowners on qualifying social security benefits can get help towards mortgage interest payments with a support for mortgage interest loan. The primary purpose of the support for mortgage interest loan is to protect owner-occupiers who are receiving an income-related benefit from the threat of repossession. In April 2018, support for mortgage interest changed from a benefit to an interest-bearing loan.”
“Members should not hesitate to talk to me or departmental officials if they have any specific issues. We are more than happy to do that. Again, I beg that this be approved today.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee and those who have contributed. The outworkings of any review or special audit that has been conducted by the Department will be looked at. We will assess that once it has concluded, and any appropriate changes or recommendations will be made then. <BR /> <BR />The existing code is similar to the previous code that was passed. It is principles-based. It is about reflecting the good practice and developments in other public bodies, not just here but in Britain and across this island. It continues to incorporate the Local Government Auditor's statutory responsibilities with regard to performance improvement audits and assessments that were introduced as part of the 2014 Act. We will continue to keep that under review.”
“The Local Government Auditor consulted interested parties about the draft code of audit practice in 2021. Fourteen responses were received as part of the consultation. I therefore seek the Assembly's approval for the Local Government Auditor's draft Code of Audit Practice 2021 to come into force with effect from 1 April 2021.”
“Article 5(3) provides that a code of practice will not:”
“Article 5(1) of the Local Government (NI) Order 2005 requires the Local Government Auditor to prepare, and keep under review, a code of audit practice that prescribes the way in which auditors carry out their functions for district councils and other local government bodies. Article 5(2) of the 2005 order provides that such a code shall embody what appears to the Local Government Auditor to be:”
“I beg to introduce the Support for Mortgage Interest etc (Security for Loans) Bill [NIA 42/17-22], which is a Bill to provide for loans under article 13 of the Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 to be charged on land and for the charges to be registrable in the Statutory Charges Register.”
“We are looking at that. The Housing Executive is running a pilot to look at doing a lot of that assessment in-house. There have been brilliant results around disabled facilities, and we hope that that will be extended across the board. I will be able to update you separately on that.”
“— but work with me and be open and genuine about it.”
“I have no problem with being held to account —”
“The proposer of the motion said that he did not want the debate to be political. I totally agree with that, but he then went outside and did a video and made it political. Again, straight after raising it —”
“When I am finished. I am more than happy to have a conversation with anybody who comes to me, but very few of you have come to me. Some have — I will give them that — but few MLAs have asked to sit down with me to discuss housing. You wait until you come to the Chamber to say anything. I know that many of you are genuine about it, but come and speak to me as well.”
“Mervyn, I get on with you, but you are a different person in the Chamber from what you are in the corridor, truth be told. I am more than happy to have a conversation with anybody —.”
“A comment was made about the institutions. It is critical for housing, because, when it comes to how budgets are allocated or decisions are taken, discrimination of any sort needs to end. There should not be political interference that tries to discriminate in public policy”
“I completely agree, but we need to change the fundamentals. I am more than happy to look at that in the time ahead.”
“Obviously, I am responsible for developing the gender strategy. We have looked at gender budgeting and participatory budgeting, and I have looked at the sectors. It is not just a case of putting more money or resources into social care. It is about fixing the terms and conditions within social care. Not only are many who work there female but it is the lowest-paid sector. You can look at that and track it across. A number of months ago, I attended a Housing Executive presentation with the Human Rights Commission, which was looking at gender in apprenticeships. The higher-paid apprenticeships are predominantly in male-orientated sectors. That is what needs to change.”
“<BR /> <BR />Issues were raised around the allocation and points system. Members will know that, when I was off, my predecessor, Carál, brought forward changes to the points system. Eighteen of the 20 recommendations were approved. Work to put the systems in place for those changes to take effect is ongoing with the Housing Executive. Some will start to be rolled out next year, and that work will continue shortly after that. <BR /> <BR />I do not have the specific details or targets on the loopholes. However, the longer that the mitigations and loopholes cannot be closed, the longer that people will be impacted. I have asked the Executive that that be placed on the agenda for decision, not discussion, at this Thursday's Executive meeting. <BR /> <BR />I move now to gender and budgeting.”
“My proposal for a consultation on the right to buy scheme has been with the Executive for a number of months, but it has not made it on to the agenda. If you look at the issues, you will see an obvious trend. <BR /> <BR />I move now to prioritising health. I agree that health and housing have to work together. There has been greater working together throughout the pandemic. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Robin and me, but it ends in December. I want that to continue and to be broadened beyond the pandemic. Last week, I visited a homeless accommodation facility in south Belfast. You can clearly see the links between housing and health, particularly around addiction and the wider wrap-around support. I want to continue to work with the Health Minister to make sure that we are addressing those issues collectively.”
“<BR /> <BR />I know the proposers' intent in respect of housing, but, if they speak to their Minister, they will hear that Nichola knows what has been raised and said at the Executive meetings. That means that one area is being blocked from being brought forward by one part of the Executive Office. Rather than trying to promote the false narrative that it is being blocked by two sides of the House, we should work collectively to ensure that our people benefit from a quality housing policy and improved rights for all. I call on the Programme for Government and my consultation on the right to buy scheme to be brought to the Executive for decisions. <BR /> <BR />I have a bit of time, so I will address some other issues. I have covered the housing supply strategy and said that we will go out to consultation on that soon.”
“I will give way in a minute, once I finish, and there is a bit of time. Sorry. <BR /> <BR />I have also spoken to the deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill. She, too, has confirmed her support. Indeed, she has told me that she has signed off on the Programme for Government outcomes framework that was brought forward by officials. That Programme for Government document has been through numerous departmental discussions, stakeholder engagements and consultation exercises. It represents not only a ministerial and departmental road map but one that has been endorsed by wider civic society and a range of stakeholders. I know from speaking to the deputy First Minister that she has clearly and publicly set out that position in Executive meetings.”
“I have raised it at the Executive, I will continue to raise it, and I have put it in writing as part of the draft Programme for Government outcomes framework.”
“The consultation on the strategy will come forward before the end of this year. <BR /> <BR />I have covered a number of important issues. Some are deep, underlying issues that have been there for many years, if not decades. I am taking on the challenges through the most radical transformation of our housing system in over 50 years. Tackling our housing crisis requires collaboration across government. Today's debate highlights the need for a stand-alone housing outcome in the Programme for Government. It was discussed in the other debate, but the right to a home is fundamental. A house impacts on many other things. I support the housing sector and those campaigners in having a stand-alone outcome. My position on that is known.”
“It will also consider the wider issues of quality, sustainability and affordability in the context of changing demographics and household formation trends. The strategy will provide the long-term basis for sustainable improvements across the entire housing market but with a specific focus on equality and an increase in housing supply and housing options for those in greatest need.”
“The plan sets out a framework to build on the lessons learned since March 2020, while also considering the wider strategic impacts. Work continues on the development of the new homelessness strategy to take us from 2022 to 2027, with a public consultation set to be launched this month. <BR /> <BR />Housing is an integrated system, as many have said. That means that the impacts on one or more parts of the system — for instance, restrictions on private housebuilding — impact on need and demand in other areas. It also means that the barriers to increasing the supply of social and intermediate homes are much the same as those affecting housing supply more broadly. My Department leads on the development of a housing supply strategy. That will focus on those whole-system issues that act as a barrier to the supply of housing.”
“That will allow tenants to avail themselves of longer tenancies in better, well-maintained homes, with tenancy support services available when they need them. <BR /> <BR />I prioritised an action to improve our response to homelessness. Our future homelessness policy continues to build on the lessons learned in how we have dealt with the pandemic. That will include a roll-out of an interdepartmental homelessness action plan, and it will continue to support the Housing Executive to deliver on its statutory responsibility for responding to homelessness. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased that I was able to secure an additional £9·3 million this year to continue the public health response for the very vulnerable groups. That will allow the Housing Executive to continue to deliver actions in its COVID reset plan, which was published in November 2020.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am bringing forward new legislation to improve the safety, security and quality of the private rented sector, and I put the needs of tenants at the heart of this approach. Private renters should have access to good, affordable homes, with peace of mind over the length and conditions of their rental contract. There needs to be improved health and safety in order to keep families and people safe, and I want to see restrictions on rent increases and to extend the notice-to-quit period so that we protect tenants when it comes to evictions. <BR /> <BR />The Bill includes a clause to alter the notice period up to a maximum of six months, and my officials are exploring ways to make better use of private rented homes, examining the potential for long-term leasing schemes in the private rented sector.”
“I will give way at the end. Sorry, I want to make sure that I finish what I have here. <BR /> <BR />My officials and the Housing Executive continue to work in partnership and at pace to provide me with advice to enable me to bring a recommendation to the Executive by March 2022 on how to tackle the challenge. We need to make the private rented sector a more sustainable option, and, indeed, that sector was one of our most urgent areas of intervention as the pandemic hit. An emergency Bill was drafted, from a blank piece of paper, and passed in the Assembly in less than five weeks, to extend the protections around the notice to quit. Indeed, I have extended those again until May 2022.”
“In June 2020, the Assembly passed legislation to end the house sale schemes for housing associations, and that will come into effect in August 2022. Members were written to in October 2021, informing them of the change. I remain committed to launching a consultation on the future of the house sale schemes, addressing the need to do much more within the Housing Executive stock as well. I put this proposal to the Executive, and it has not progressed. I am calling for the proposal to be progressed so that I can put it out to consultation. <BR /> <BR />Members are also aware of the huge and long-standing investment challenges faced by the Housing Executive.”
“More needs to be done to provide people with a greater range of affordable housing choices. My Department published the definition of affordable housing in April 2021. The changes are designed to facilitate a greater range of affordable housing products and to support the delivery of mixed-tenure developments as a key area of focus for councils in their local development plans. I launched a consultation on the delivery of one new such product: intermediate rent. The consultation sets out my proposals to deliver a new supply of affordable housing for rent, offering homes that are affordable for lower-income people and families. <BR /> <BR />Meeting the challenges posed by our housing crisis requires us to do more, deliver more social and affordable homes and protect the homes that we have.”
“Over the four years to 2024, I will have provided £158 million of financial transactions capital loan funding to Co-Ownership. That will help to deliver more than 4,400 homes under that successful scheme. That includes £13 million that was allocated in January this year to assist those who were negatively impacted by tighter lending conditions as a result of the pandemic.”
“To ensure that we protect the delivery of new social housebuilding programmes, I have recently approved a mid-year review to increase the cost to allow those projects to continue. That will take account of the increased costs that are affecting contractors on newly tendered schemes. Housing associations can claim for increased costs between April and September of this year for schemes that are already on-site or tendered. <BR /> <BR />I will also continue to help people into homeownership, if that is their choice, through the support for shared ownership schemes such as Co-Ownership. Co-Ownership has helped more than 30,000 families into homeownership. It is currently assisting well over 1,000 people a year to purchase their first home.”
“I will reintroduce ring-fencing to ensure that areas of acute housing need are prioritised. I am working with housing associations, and I have encouraged them to identify land that is available for social housing. I am also conducting an exercise to identify surplus public land that could be used for social housing developments. Again, that is where councils, through their local development plans, can play a key role in making sure that the targets around social and affordable housing are met. I know that some people in councils — I am glad that is a minority — did not want any minimum threshold. However, we need the threshold to be at 20% or up at 30% to 40%, at least, as a minimum. <BR /> <BR />The COVID pandemic has impacted the construction industry and the cost of materials.”
“My ambition is to ensure that every household has access to good-quality, affordable and sustainable housing that meets its needs appropriately. I am pulling out all the stops to get more homes built in every area where there is a housing need. Tackling housing stress is my top priority. <BR /> <BR />Last year, 2,403 social housing units were started; the highest figure in a decade. During the same period, 1,318 social housing units were completed, and that exceeded the target of 1,200. I have secured an investment budget from the Finance Minister for new social housing. This financial year, I have made £162 million available, and that is an increase of £26 million on the previous year's budget. <BR /> <BR />I am considering what policy changes are needed to increase the capacity of the social housing development programme.”
“I thank the contributors to the debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. <BR /> <BR />I am aware of the housing crisis that we face, and many Members have discussed that crisis today. Indeed, I have not shied away from saying that it is a housing crisis. Members will recall the statement that was made, almost a year ago to the day, outlining plans to address the challenges that we face in our system. Those included looking at the housing stress, increasing the supply of social and affordable homes and looking at the change in population going forward. <BR /> <BR />Previously, I outlined how I will deliver on the challenges. That included proposals for legislative and structural change, which may transform how we address the housing need.”
“We can do stuff, so let us get down to doing it.”
“— the right to a real living wage and an end to zero-hours contracts. We also need to implement the welfare mitigations and get those across the line. One party is blocking the mitigations from being put on the Executive table. This Thursday, I will again call for a decision, not discussion, on that.”
“In my closing remarks, I will cover the things that can be done now, Andy. I thank you for your intervention. <BR /> <BR />We can legislate now to improve workers' terms and conditions: the right to unionise —”
“They are being designed by the sectors involved, such as our community and voluntary sector, our LGBT community, our women's movement, our disability community, our charities and others. I ask that those strategies are endorsed when they come to the Executive and the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />I ask the House and all parties to agree to a stand-alone outcome on housing in the Programme for Government. We need to deal with the housing crisis, and all housing campaigners and those working in the field have called for that. Again, will all the parties in the Chamber endorse my proposal at the Executive to have a stand-alone outcome in the Programme for Government?”
“The reality is that the global economic system is not working. It works for a few at the top and not for the many. That needs to change. It is not by chance that we are in a global climate crisis, a global cost of living crisis and a fuel crisis, but people are making billions of pounds in profit. That is abhorrent, and it needs to change. On issues like that, we need to stand collectively with all Governments to say, "Enough is enough". <BR /> <BR />We can do things locally. I completely agree with the motion's intent and that we should do something. I am trying to work at pace to bring something forward. Over the next period, the House and all parties can prioritise the anti-poverty and social inclusion strategies that I am bringing forward.”
“Fundamentally, however, we need to challenge the economic system that creates inequality and injustice and enables the fuel crisis, the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis. All those crises are not happening by chance: the global economic system is weighted to create crises and injustice. We can try to shield our citizens from the worst effects, but we cannot eradicate it on our own. That is why we need to stand up, articulate that and demand a different type of economic system that does not work for the minority. As many Members have said, somebody is making a profit out of it. A minority of people are making a profit. We need to turn that around and ensure that the majority of people feel the benefits and that those profits do not go into the pockets of a minority at the top of our global system.”
“I know that many councils are looking at fuel support schemes and using that vital money to support people with their energy costs, as they did during the pandemic. The winter fuel payment will soon start to be paid out to 283,000 people. Over £50 million is being invested in that. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the contributions to the debate. It is an issue that is clearly recognised across the House. I fully support the need for collective action on the part of central and local government and all our partners in the community and voluntary sector in the hope that energy companies respond to the crisis. We can make an intervention, and it is right that we do so. I will continue to push the Executive to do that. I am developing a scheme, and I will bring it forward as quickly as I can.”
“My officials are working at pace to scope out the options that are available to provide support to citizens who may struggle to heat their home or pay their energy bills over the coming months. As I said, any intervention will be subject to the necessary budget requirements, and I am looking to bring forward a scheme as soon as possible. I will make a bid for the full £13·7 million, and, again, whether I can scale up a scheme will depend on the money that comes forward and what other Departments can potentially surrender. <BR /> <BR />Recently, I have also given out an additional £3 million payment to councils through the community support programme. We are engaging with local government.”
“The combined bid will be determined by whether the money is there. Are Departments willing to give over money? As was stated, it is OK to say that it is only 0·4% of the Budget, but that could mean millions of pounds. The Department of Finance does not have a money tree. The money that it reallocates comes from other Departments that maybe cannot spend it in this financial year. Therefore I have to rely on other Ministers, if the money is available. Obviously, I will have to look within my Department as well. <BR /> <BR />Depending on the money, the support could be scalable. It could be £13·7 million, or we could scale it up to around £44 million, as we did with a similar scheme last year. Over £50 million will go out in the next month or two for the winter fuel payment. The support is in addition to those payments.”
“I have already said publicly that I am in the process of making a formal bid to the Department of Finance for that full amount of £13·7 million. Of course, more money will be needed, because, when you look at the additional winter fuel payment that we gave last year, you see that it was over £44 million. The £13·7 million will do some things, but it will do very little. There are therefore serious questions around where that finance can come from.”
“The Executive must find a sustainable solution to increasingly high energy prices that aligns with our fuel poverty, energy and climate change strategies and balances it with the potential impact on the efforts to reduce carbon and switch from fossil fuels to renewables. With regard to the current crisis, I have asked my officials to consider what my Department can do to contribute to the Executive's response to those in immediate and serious need. They have had early engagement with the Utility Regulator, along with officials from the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council, to understand and consider what can be done in the current climate. <BR /> <BR />There were some questions asked about the Barnett consequentials. We got confirmation of that only last week in the spending review. It will be £13·7 million.”