Debate contribution: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Further Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 29 September 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Further Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5138902
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I do not think that the Member has any genuine interest in trying not to understand it, whether that is deliberate or not, but the Bill, as currently proposed, talks about the Department's "assessment": I seek to change the wording around "assessment" to "best estimates". I think the point that he is making is that what I am doing will not address the wider issue, but neither will the Bill as drafted, which he supported. We have taken advice on the terminology around "assessment". We believe that that wording should be replaced with "best estimates". I have outlined the purpose of what we are going to do. He misses the point that I have raised, which is that that section of the Bill, which, as currently drafted, is around 13 lines in length — not that we should use quantity to judge quality — and we are replacing it with a longer, more detailed clause that allows the assessment or, with the change of terminology, the "best estimates" to include a differential approach for primary and post-primary. The Bill currently does not do that. I have enhanced the provision to make it stronger, and I trust that the majority of Members will understand the purpose of what I am trying to do in respect of that. Those were the key issues that were raised. Members commented on the word "undue". I have given the reasons why I think that that is appropriate. Mr Burrows gave a good explanation of why he supports that. The argument will remain around the necessity for the word "undue". That is the position that I take in respect of it. To summarise, I have tabled 11 amendments, which we have debated. They are technical amendments. They improve the language, style and structure of the School Uniforms Bill following Consideration Stage. They are technical amendments that deliver the intention that was stated by Members at Consideration Stage when we debated them and what the impact of those amendments would be. Within the group, amendment Nos 1 and 5 leave out a subsection and a clause in order for the subsequent amendments, which are Nos 11 and 12, to place them elsewhere in the Bill in their own clauses and in a new chapter. Language has been updated throughout the Bill by my amendments, which provide greater legal clarity and greater consistency in the existing clauses in the Bill and other existing legislation. Nothing has been taken away from the intentions that were voted through in the amendments at Consideration Stage; in fact, in places, I have expanded references to them so that they are included and more effective. Amendment No 7 moves the words "as follows" for absolute consistency. Amendment No 8 re-tables that minor amendment from Consideration Stage on the word "undue" as the parameter when directions are being considered. That has been done to be consistent with the materiality parameter at clause 8(1), which is to help protect pupils and schools. I indicated that, while I do not think that amendment No 9 is necessary, I will not oppose that amendment from Mr Mathison. Amendment No 10 simply tidies language and relates to the requirements that the Department "must publish" directions:
"within 3 months of giving them."
It is incumbent on every Member to pay heed to the need to make good, workable legislation. I have taken that responsibility seriously and have tabled the necessary amendments. They are technical amendments that do not interfere with the impact of decisions that were taken at Consideration Stage. It is parents who are placing their trust in us as legislators to make legislation that will work. Supporting my amendments today is an opportunity to do just that. It is an opportunity that, I trust and hope, Members will take, and I commend all the group 1 amendments to the House.
643 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.87).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.04 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.87 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.61 |
| Education structures, integration and community division | 0.38 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.