Debate contribution: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Jon Burrows on .
- MLA
- Mr Jon Burrows
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 15 September 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5099867
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This is a good day, because we are dealing with legislation. I feel somewhat spoilt. I have only just arrived, and I am right at the heart of dealing with legislation. That is positive. When it comes to the amendments, I see the whole Bill as being like a stick of rock. The slogan that goes through it is "affordability", and its wrapper says, "No child should ever be excluded, disciplined or disadvantaged because their mum and dad or carers do not have the money that someone else's might have". It is really important to capture that principle every time we deal with a group of amendments. On group 2, "Trust but verify" is a dictum that I like, so I have no issue with amendment No 2 and putting in the word "must". That is sensible. Amendment No 3 provides greater clarity and certainty about who the consultees are, so I have no issue with that. I am interested in some of the legal advice that the Minister received on how there may drafting problems with some amendments. Of course, the Minister does not have to reveal any legal advice, but, if he did, the only impact would be that he would lose his privilege. He can decide to release legal advice. At times, it would be useful to see legal advice, especially with legislation such as this, when we really want to understand the reasoning behind things. What are the risks? What are the unintended consequences of words, which can really make a huge difference and stymie the intent of legislation? To my mind, it is sensible to have the requirement that there be more than one provider of school uniforms. That encourages competition and drives down prices. Having that safeguard is entirely sensible, particularly for rural schools — they are mostly schools in constituencies west of the Bann that are often represented by those on the other side of the Chamber — that may be impacted by the inability to have more than one provider of school uniforms. It is sensible to have a safeguard that means that the school manager can say where the school has deviated from that practice because there is only a single supplier. In essence, that is our position on the group 2 amendments. I am conscious of the advice that the Minister received on the drafting. I want to see the detail of that in order to understand the main concerns. I agree that amendment No 13 is not contentious. We are largely content with those group 2 amendments, but I want to explore and be reassured about the Minister's concerns about the impact that they might have on the legislation.
450 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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