Welfare Reform back on Assembly’s agenda

The Welfare Reform Bill will be subject to scrutiny in the Assembly next week.  The Social Development Committee will meet on Monday morning for a departmental briefing on the bill from Ms Anne McCleary and Mr Michael Pollock from the Department for Social Development.

Mervyn Storey, Minister for Social Development, will reintroduce the Bill to the Assembly for consideration stage on the 10 February.  

A number of amendments to the Bill have been tabled by Assembly members and these will be debated during Tuesday’s plenary session, These amendments include suggestions that

• the Department ensure the provision of independent advice to anyone making a claim for welfare benefits and
• the Department be required to provide regular reports on sanctions
• an Assembly committee be established to monitor implementation of the bill and to consider relevant NI legislation and consequential arrangments