Social security experts and high level politicians confirmed for Welfare Reform Conference.

The conference, organised by NICVA and the Law Centre, is aimed at providing voluntary and community organisations with information on current proposals as well as offering a place to debate the purpose and nature of the welfare reform agenda.

Speaking as the full agenda for the day was confirmed, Lisa McElherron, Head of Public Affairs in NICVA said “the reform of social security is a massive issue for voluntary and community organisations and the people, families and communities they work with.  This conference could not come at a better time. Working with colleagues in the Law Centre we are delighted to have been able to secure such an influential panel of speakers, but we also have planned plenty of time for voluntary and community organisations to ask questions and have their say. I’m looking forward to an interesting and lively event.”

Book a place

More details, and booking information, for the event are listed here. If you would like more information, please contact Lorraine Boyd at [email protected]

Agenda

Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland – a conference for the voluntary and community sector

Conference facilitator: Paul Clark

9.15am    Registration

9.45am    Welfare reform and the voluntary and community sector

Bob Stronge, Chair of NIVCA

10.00am  Reforming welfare in the UK: principles, process and progress

Neil Couling, Director, Department of Work and Pensions

10.25am  Welfare reform in NI: impact, scope and concerns

Les Allamby, Director Law Centre NI

10.45am Questions and answer session

11.00am  Professor Ruth Lister CBE in conversation

11.45am  Break

12.00pm Information workshops

A chance to learn more about and discuss the impact of the proposed reforms on key areas.

(A)      Children and Families under Universal Credit

(B)      Housing

(C)     Moving People into Employment

(D)     Disabled people and the Introduction of Personal Independence Payment  

2.00pm Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, Department for Social Development

Feedback from workshops with response from below (all TBC)

• Professor Eileen Evason, Chair of the Joint Standards Committee for the Social Security Agency and Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division
• Neil Couling, Director, Department for Work and Pensions
• Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, Department for Social Development
• Les Allamby, Director, Law Centre (NI)

Questions and discussion

3.15pm Let’s talk welfare reform, a political discussion

• Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• Alex Maskey MLA, Chairperson of Social Development Committee
• Baroness Ruth Lister
• Mark H Durkan, MLA
• Judith Cochrane, MLA
• Paula Bradley, MLA
• Other political representatives – to be confirmed

4.30pm Concluding remarks