Debate contribution: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Further Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on 29 September 2025.

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 5139320

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move amendment No 2:

As we move into the group 2 debate, I reflect on the importance of the task in hand: making good legislation to enable effective guidelines that will make school uniforms more affordable for all. We have only four of my technical amendments to debate in the group, so I will move straight to them, while reminding Members that none of the amendments attempts to dilute the impact of what was done at Consideration Stage. Rather, any changes that they will make again relate to language, style and structure in order to make the best legislation possible. I am sure that Members will happily share with me the responsibility of making the best legislation possible in such aspects. Amendment No 2 amends the wording of the amendment voted through at Consideration Stage while delivering the intent. That amendment used terms that are not used in other education law and are not commonly used in day-to-day school practice. Amendment No 2 therefore removes wording such as "play-based curricula" but replaces it with "play-based learning", which is a term more commonly understood in education. It expands the reference to outdoor learning so that it now reflects that the guidelines need to provide for uniform policies to address recreational, sporting or outdoor activities. I see benefits in doing that, particularly so that it does not bear to focus too narrowly on one aspect of the curriculum. You will note that it additionally refers to normal classroom and academic matters, as it would seem odd in this context not to refer to them as well. It considers the reality of a school day and applies it to the intent articulated at Consideration Stage, namely that schools consider how children learn and what activities they participate in as part of that learning and, therefore, consider how their uniform requirements need to support their pupils in that. Amendment No 2 works alongside amendment No 6, which places the specific Foundation Stage reference more appropriately in clause 6. Again, I see benefits in broadening that out. It is preferable not to focus too narrowly in referring to one stage of education, noting that clause 6 already allows more generally for different provision for different age and peer groups, so clause 6 is the appropriate place to set the Foundation Stage reference. The House will note that it goes further by explicitly referencing Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well. In addition, the opening words of new paragraph (b) are adjusted to reflect that practicality, along with comfort, is already covered by paragraph (a). As ever, it is the combination as well as particularity of provision that matters. Taken together, amendment Nos 2 and 6 are consistent with the Consideration Stage amendment while reflecting language that is more consistent with other legislation and education practice. I trust that the House will support the amendments. Amendment No 3 merely paves the way for amendment No 4, just as there were similar paving amendments in group 1. Amendment No 3 leaves out provisions inserted into clause 2 at Consideration Stage so that amendment No 4 can place them in a separate clause with its own heading to index them. Amendment No 4 further refines the language in the Consideration Stage amendment, but the same matters are still provided for: limiting or ruling out single suppliers unless they demonstrate value for money and ensuring that information about any agreements, contractual or otherwise, is published at least annually, unless the agreement was in place before the Bill gains Royal Assent. Again, I understand that some Members may be concerned that a declaration made by a school manager that single suppliers give value for money could simply state that. I assure Members that that is not the case. The ordinary meaning of the word "declaration" is a:

"formal or explicit statement or announcement".

The amendment has been drafted by experts, recognising that, unless a specific definition is inserted, the ordinary meaning of a word has effect. I would not accept a declaration from a school manager that provides no information about exactly how using a single or limited supplier equates to being value for money. I do not consider that to meet the requirements of the Bill. Evidence will have to be provided about how exactly it delivers such value for money. Amendment No 4 sets out the reporting requirements voted for at Consideration Stage in a more clear and consistent legislative framing, including to give some weight to the definitions of terms used: for example, being explicit that an agreement can be contractual or otherwise and that a pre-commencement agreement is one in place before the Bill comes into operation. In my view, that makes the detail in the new clause easier to follow. I trust that Members will recognise the work that has gone into all the amendments that I have tabled to ensure that they deliver better flow but do not stray from the intent that was voted for at Consideration Stage. I also trust that Members will vote today for all my amendments, which, I remind the House, are technical in nature in order to provide consistency in language, style and structure in the Bill. I commend all my group 2 amendments to the House.

884 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:18 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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