The Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, a Standing Committee of Tynwald, will be taking oral evidence from the Minister for Social Care for the first time next week. The Chief Executive of the Department of Social Care, Mr Chris Corlett, will also participate. Topics likely to be covered include social security reciprocal arrangements; incapacity benefit; safeguarding children; the Regulation of Care Bill; and the closure of Glenside.

The session will be on Wednesday 12th September 2012 at 10.30 am in the Legislative Council Chamber, Legislative Buildings, Bucks Road, Douglas. The evidence will be taken in public. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, comprising of Mrs Brenda Cannell MHK, Caairliagh, the Hon Steve Rodan SHK and Mr David Callister MLC, is one of three new Standing Committees of Tynwald Court established in October 2011 with a wide scrutiny remit. The oral evidence session with the Minister for Social Care on 12th September is the latest in a series of routine scrutiny sessions covering all Departments over the course of about a year.

The Committee will be hearing from the Minister for Home Affairs on the morning of 24th October 2012 and from the Minister for Health on the morning of 23rd January 2013. The Committee will determine its own priorities, but if members of the public wish to suggest topics for these sessions, any such suggestions will be taken into account.