Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In the course of his hectoring of members of the Committee, the Minister made reference to "a Protestant school". I am not aware of a Protestant school sector. I know that we have the controlled sector and the maintained sector. I believe that what the Minister was trying to do was…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister has just made an allegation that is completely untrue. I have never uttered the words that he said there.
Thank you, Minister, for giving way. Can you understand that some of us may be a bit perplexed when we talk about equality and the rights of girls to wear trousers and are told that that is already in place and that it is up to schools? That still leaves some schools where girls are allowed to wear trousers and other…
I thank the Member for her intervention. A number of Members have touched on that issue, and I addressed it earlier in the debate. I am getting to the point at which I will speak about equality-related matters. The Bill speaks about comfort and practicality. Those measures are in the Bill and will be reflected in the…
Thank you, Minister, for giving way. I apologise for not having been able to contribute to the debate. I was at another engagement. On the point about equality and what the guidance might do, the Minister will be aware that I tabled an amendment about girls being allowed to wear trousers. To give him an idea of from…
Minister, this is your wee trick that you do all the time. You will take all the praise for yourself when you think that everything is going to go right, but, when it is going to go wrong, regardless of what it is, you want to place the blame on everybody else. Make no mistake: this is your Bill.
I thank the Minister for giving way. Throughout the process, you have been very willing to take interventions as we have debated the draft legislation. Given that it was clear that Members had concerns that they were in the dark about what the guidelines would be, would it not have been helpful to bring us some sort…
I thank the Minister for giving way. I hope that I have been clear that I really want the legislation to be effective. I will be the first to pay tribute to you if it is, but you are making big statements that it will be effective. We will know whether it is effective only when we know what the guidelines do, because…
I rise to make the final speech in the Final Stage of the School Uniforms Bill. I thank each Member who has spoken today. At the start of this element of the debate, I pay particular thanks to my officials in the Department of Education for their work. The Bill has involved a significant amount of work, which I…
Like many others, I feel that the Bill is a waste of an opportunity to take quick and meaningful action to make school uniforms more affordable. The fact that the Education Committee is considering its own Bill to strengthen the legislation is clear evidence of this Bill's weakness. I do not know whether that is…
Like many others across the Chamber, I came to the Bill with the real hope that we might see legislation that would make a tangible difference for families who are struggling with the rising cost of school uniforms. I began working on a similar Bill as a private Member, with a real will to help people. I am genuinely…
I thank the Member for giving way. Lots of Members have referred to the evidence that the Committee heard from young people. Do you agree that it potentially sets a dangerous precedent if Committees listen to young people and tick the box to say that they have done so, but then produce legislation that seems to pay no…
I thank the Member for his intervention. I agree with much of what he said. I am not going to speculate on what may or may not have been the reason. I can look at the evidence, however, and, as I outlined, the evidence is that the work was not done. Draft guidelines did not come before us because the preparation and…
We have mentioned the guidelines and the lack of integrity that there appeared to have been in the whole process numerous times. Can you think of any reason why draft guidelines could not have been shown to the Committee? The Minister could have said, "This is what I have in mind. Take a look at those and discuss…
Legislation to tackle the cost of school uniforms has been long-awaited. When the Minister signalled an intention to do so, we welcomed it. When we saw the Bill, it is fair to say that our response and the response of others was, "Is this it?". The truth is that every Member who stands here to speak about the Bill has…
On this, the Final Stage of the School Uniforms Bill, I take the opportunity to reaffirm my support for the legislation and to commend the Minister of Education and his officials for showing leadership and bringing forward tangible action to try to make a difference to people in our communities. One of the key…
If you want me to give way, I will give way. You do not have to shout across the Chamber. It is no problem. Had you followed the inquiry and listened to the evidence that we took, particularly from our young people when they talked about violence against women and girls and misogyny — some Members in the Chamber would…