Assembly Insider 28th November

Ministerial Statements - Question Time - Debates

Ministerial Statements

Prisons: Mental Health
The Minister for Justice made a statement entitled "Prisons: Mental Health" as a result of the recent deaths in custody in NI.
Read the statement in full here.

The deputy First Minister made a statement on the recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Plenary Format.
The meeting covered topics such as Brexit, the launch of the bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the performance of the economy in each jurisdiction.
Read the statement in full here.

The Minister of Finance made a statement on Rating Policy
In this statement he outlined a "groundbreaking package of measures aimed at modernising the domestic and commercial elements of the rating system in order to stimulate the economy as the foundation of a shared and prosperous society."
Statements made by the Minsiter included:

"I want to replace the existing small business rate relief scheme with a £22 million investment in small retail and hospitality businesses."
"I want to target support under the new scheme at the sectors that are key to the survival of our town and city centres."
"I also wish to bring forward a business empowerment zone pilot targeted at small-scale regeneration areas and developed in tandem with other Departments and initiatives. I propose to start in Belfast with two pilots, on the Falls and Newtownards Roads, both areas in need of a greater peace dividend."
" I would also like to take forward a new scheme to incentivise conversion from commercial to residential occupation, by providing a rates incentive for the first occupiers of newly converted premises in our town and city centres."
"I would like to address the issue of empty property."

He also stated an intention to introduce a 10% rates bill for charity shops.

Proposals will be subject to a public consultation.
Read the statement in full here.

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs made a statement on a recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Agriculture Sectoral Format.
Like the Plenary Meeting of the NSMC, detailed above, this meeting also discussed the implications/impact of the result of the EU referendu,
Read the statement in full here.

The Minister for Communities made a statement on Regeneration Powers. In which he confirmed that he will not transfer regeneration powers from his Department to Local Councils.

The Minister said: "I want to see central and local government operating within our respective existing legislative, community planning and resource frameworks, working with other stakeholders, whether in the community or private sectors, to maximise the impact that we can make together. This is not simply about improving our public realm and increasing our shared space; it is about creating more vibrant places with more employment opportunities and better housing, addressing poverty, and improving the quality of people's lives."

Read the statement in full here.

Junior Minister Ross made a statement on the recent meeting of the British:Irish Council held in Environment Sectoral Format.
Read the statement in full here.

Question Time

Questions to The Executive Office were answered by the deputy First Minister and included:
Ministerial Code
Racial Equality Legislation
PFG 2016-2021: Consultation Responses
Brexit: Parliamentary Approval
Brexit: Ministerial Discussions

Topical Questions included: Charter NI: CEO and Fresh Start Agreement: Reconciliation and Social Investment Fund.

Questions to the Minister for the Economy included:
Apprenticeship Levy
Student Engagement

Topical Questions included: International Trade and Universities: Funding

Questions to the Minister of Education included:
Early Years Education
Entitlement Framework
Educational Programmes: EU Funding

Topical Questions included: Knowledge Economy, NASUWT Strike and Education: Chief Inspector’s Annual Report.

Questions to the Minister of Finance included:
EU Updates
New-build Housing: Environmental Sustainability
Citizens' Budget
Capital Investment

Topical Questions included: Councils: Urban Regeneration and Community Development Powers. Rates: Small Business Rate Relief Scheme, Social Investment Fund and a question on Rates for Charity shops - see below:

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance) asked the Minister of Finance "whether, when consulting on the potential changes to rates for charity shops, he will meet the likes of the hospices, which provide beds for children in the last stage of their life and are very reliant on the income from shops and other sponsorship and funding efforts.

There is an increasing gap between the amount that charities get from government and the amount that they have to raise. I want to put it on record that I am very concerned about the implications for front-line services of the policy announced today."

To which the Minister replied: "I meet the folk from the Northern Ireland Hospice often. They know of my strong support for their efforts: my personal support and my support as a Minister. They also know my view that it is important that everyone who occupies a high street shop should make some contribution to the rates. If it turns out to be 10% — it is 20% in England, Scotland and Wales — it will be about £15 a week. I do not believe that any charity out there could not ask its landlord — many landlords are making a fortune because they renegotiated with charities that did not have the nous or the cutes to understand what they were signing up for — to take some of the pain. I am not saying that that is the case with the Northern Ireland Hospice, but they could certainly tell their landlord that they should take some of the pain on this.

I do not see it as being a threat to the charities in any way.
Some charities are much larger than others, of course, and some are very well resourced, of course, and, in my discussions with them I said, "Could we not look at ways of ring-fencing this money to work on entrepreneurship in the social sector?" In all the hubs around Belfast, I meet start-ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs who are focused on social enterprises, so there is an opportunity for us to find new, additional ways to raise revenue.
I will say this to the Member: she should not be overly concerned, but if she wants to share those concerns, she should do so in the time ahead. I will certainly maintain the very warm and close contact I have with the NI Hospice in the time ahead."

There were two Urgent Oral Questions on: Social Investment Fund: Audit. and Schools: Proposed Industrial Action by the NASUWT

Debates

Monday 21st November was another Opposition Day in the Assembly.

The first Opposition Motion came from the SDLP relating to EU Funding for Agriculture.

The motion, proposed by Patsy McGlone, read as follows:
"That this Assembly notes with concern the risks to multiple streams of funding posed by withdrawal from the European Union; further notes that over 70% of all European funding to Northern Ireland falls under the common agricultural policy and other rural funds, which provide approximately £350 million each year to farmers, representing 87% of annual farm income; acknowledges that the agri-food sector accounts for 3·25% of Northern Ireland’s gross value added, which equates to £1·1 billion at basic prices and approximately 71,500 local jobs and that existing strategies in these sectors, such as Going for Growth, make no provision for the withdrawal of European Union funding; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline how she intends to uphold the First Minister’s commitment that farmers can be provided for as well, if not better, if Northern Ireland leaves the European Union, and to detail how she will develop a strategy to provide for and secure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural and agri-food sectors to ensure no loss of assistance to farmers arising from the withdrawal of existing European Union funding."

Despite failing to gain support from the Green Party, TUV and DUP, the motion passed with 59 votes in favour and 34 votes against.

Read the debate here.

The second Opposition Motion, from the UUP, was on Rural Schools: Draft Strategic Area Plan.

A DUP amendment was successful, with 66 votes in favour (DUP, Alliance, SF, Ind Unionist) and 26 votes against (Green, TUV, PBP, SDLP and UUP)
The amended motion passed as follows:
"That this Assembly notes the publication of the Education Authority’s 'Providing Pathways Draft Strategic Area Plan for School Provision 2017-2020'; acknowledges the concerns that there will be over the proposals, particularly in rural areas; believes that every pupil, regardless of whether they live in a rural or an urban area, should have access to quality education in a viable and sustainable school, contributing to achieving the draft Programme for Government outcome to give our children and young people the best start in life; believes that the best way to achieve this is through an effective area planning process involving managing authorities and sectoral support bodies; acknowledges sensitivities around the provision of the schools estate in both rural and other areas; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a strategic small schools initiative to ensure accessibility to a quality education, particularly for isolated communities."

Read the debate in full here.

The final Opposition Motion was from the SDLP on Poverty and Deprivation.

The brought an amendment which was passed with 56 votes in favour (SF, DUP) and 31 against (Green, Alliance, SDLP and UUP)

"That this Assembly notes the latest edition of the 'Northern Ireland Poverty Bulletin' detailing the levels of poverty across Northern Ireland; further notes that section 28E of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was the subject of a judicial review in June 2015; and welcomes the Executive’s commitment, as outlined in the recent Programme for Government consultation document, to publish a new social strategy that aims to improve the lives of those in poverty through a range of specific interventions that will tackle poverty, social exclusion and deprivation on the basis of the objective need."

Read the debate in full here.

The UUP brought a motion on Energy Affordability and Security.

The motion did not pass with 35 votes in favour (Green, Alliance, PBP, SDLP, UUP and TUV) and 53 against (DUP, SF, Ind Unionist)

Read the debate in full here.

The DUP brought a motion calling for a review of the number of Arms Length Bodies which currently exist.

An SDLP amendment was not successful therefore the motion passed as follows:

"That this Assembly notes the reduction in the number of government Departments and the associated efficiencies; and calls on the Executive to review the number and function of their arm’s-length bodies with a view to reducing their number, where possible, and maximising the available revenue."

Read the debate in full here.

Assembly Insider 28th November 2016

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