Carla Lockhart
Upper Bann · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“You tell Brownlow that the Executive have failed them and that I have failed them. I do not believe that that is right. Tell the people in Upper Bann who have waited for years to have a Minister of Education who had a heart for the Dickson plan that the Executive have failed them.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in this debate. I certainly had not planned to, and I do not have anything prepared, but I felt that it was necessary to get up as an elected representative for the Upper Bann constituency.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers thus far. I have to say, Minister, that this has been a very worrying time for the people of Portadown, particularly those who are sick and very vulnerable at this time.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I am not saying that we have a perfect world out there. I am not saying that we have adequate resources to service the needs of everyone. I am saying that this was a workable solution, and we thought that it would, over five years, certainly make a change.”
“You can laugh and scorn, but, to be honest, I do not mind: laugh away. I am here to represent my people. I have a heart for Upper Bann, and I do not want the institutions to fall, because I believe that they deliver for people on the ground. That is what I am prepared to do; that is what I am elected to do.”
“Believe it or not, the needs of their electorate are exactly the same as those of my electorate. That is the harsh reality. As we sit here today, the electorate needs good healthcare, good education and a functioning Executive who deliver for them. Unfortunately, some took the decision to walk away.”
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“The real issue with additional needs is not the educational evaluation of the children but the medical assessment times, which are causing unnecessary delays to treatment. I believe that this, alongside some of the Education Authority's processes for dealing with additional needs, is not best placed. I know that the Minister has committed to looking at those processes and ensuring that they are addressed. <BR /> <BR />The centre provides wide-ranging training programmes for parents and schools. It has also done significant research on sensory processing and has provided advice and guidance and online resources. I support a review of the current operation and educational offering on an ongoing basis. We can never be complacent or sit back in the belief that we have cracked this. This is a fluid, ever-changing process —”
“I am very encouraged by the training programme that they have in place. I note with admiration the two joint inspection reports that state very clearly that Middletown centre delivers services to an exceptional standard, and that has affected the lives of children in school and at home. My only hesitation is that, as the numbers presenting with the condition increase, it is vital that we resource it in that way. I am not going to rehearse it, but I do not believe that residential is the way to deal with these young people. To take them out of their own surroundings is somewhat wrong, and I do not think that they would be able to cope with it. <BR /> <BR />It is vital that we listen to parents and ensure that they have feed-in, and I believe that Middletown is doing that in an exceptional way.”
“A study has shown that autism affected 2·3% of the school population in 2015-16, which is a rise of 1·1% on the 2009-2010 figures. I suggest that that is down to a better understanding of the symptoms and awareness of the illness. However, that increase obviously means a need for increased provision and finance to deal with it. It is very clear that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. <BR /> <BR />Previously, additional needs children were potentially labelled as disruptive or, in some instances, slow learners and were often left to their own devices. I am really encouraged by the fact that the Middletown centre is training and really homing in on these young people to try to help them realise their full potential.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Absolutely, and I commend the Member for her role on the all-party group. The title of 'Broken Promises' says it all, and I was very encouraged by the Minister recently meeting the group to ensure its implementation. The Education Committee is a great arena in which to raise those issues, and you are 100% right about the need to ensure a working together by the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department for the Economy and the Department of Justice to help these children and young people realise their full potential. <BR /> <BR />The motion is too specific and does not address the areas of priority need. Residential has its place, but I do not believe that, on balance, it is a methodology that professionals necessarily believe is best placed to address need.”
“Those are the three key stakeholders in the whole debate. <BR /> <BR />Additional needs facilities and education provision are key focus areas for me in my term in the Assembly. During my time as a councillor, I was lobbied by many families, who contacted me to raise concerns about statementing and diagnosis. In the main, though, they contacted me about early intervention and ensuring that their child gets the best possible intervention at the earliest possible age.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the matter. Autism, ADHD and Asperger's syndrome are all conditions that we hear about so often. I have sat with mums, dads and carers and have had them literally cry and long for some help and assistance for their children and other young people who present with those needs. The message is very clear: each child is different and each child presents with different needs when diagnosed with autism. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister on his visit to the centre in Middletown to see the facilities there at first hand. It is my intention to visit the centre in the not-too-distant future. Following his visit, I note that the Minister made a very clear statement in which he said that it is clear what a positive impact the services provided by the centre are having on pupils, parents and teachers.”
“<BR /> <BR />In summary, I am very supportive of schools entering into their community. I look at my own area, and I think that it is absolutely vital that the connectivity and the link up between schools and the community happens so that educational achievement can be enhanced through learning in the real world.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have no doubt that school links in the community will improve educational achievement. I spoke to an educationalist recently, and he said that 30% of children's education is academic, while the rest is learning from their parents and from the community and businesses around them. I am therefore very supportive of that need for greater links. <BR /> <BR />Community service will allow for real-life application of learning. It will increase self-esteem, self-awareness and civic awareness for the children involved. The children and young people involved in community work can often obtain skills such as problem-solving. It can also better equip students for the world of work and make them more attractive to employers. It provides great networking options, and I have no doubt that it will bring learning beyond the classroom.”
“There needs to be greater connectivity, and I know that the Education Minister, along with the Economy Minister, is very sympathetic to having a greater link-up between educational establishments, careers advisers and the business community, because, ultimately, we need to shape young people to suit the needs of our business community in the coming years. <BR /> <BR />There also needs to be better link-up around sports activities and sports clubs using our school facilities so as to avoid duplication. Again in my constituency, a great initiative has started where Glenavon Football Club is using the local Lurgan Junior High School as part of the training ground for its academy. That is a really practical way of opening up our schools to the community.”
“I feel that in this mandate there is a real desire to deliver. I therefore welcome the spirit of the motion today. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that we need real-world learning. The way in which to deliver that is to further integrate our schools into the community services that exist around them. That means making schools very much hubs not just for learning but for social interaction and lifelong learning. For example, in my constituency of Upper Bann, I speak to local businesses. I had a meeting with Moy Park recently at which I was told, "We cannot get the skills".”
“<BR /> <BR />We all know that there is a need to move away from duplication of services. I am therefore very supportive of partnership working with councils, sports clubs, health services, youth initiatives and one of the fundamental link-ups that we have heard about in the Chamber, which is the business community. For too long, government has had silo working, and I am very much of the belief that the reshaping of our government gives us a real opportunity to rethink how we do things and how we get the best out of our schools. The quotation that jumps out at me is:”
“I support the motion. Schools very much remain a focal point in our community, and there is no doubt that they continue to be the heartbeat of our towns and villages. Traditionally, schools and educational establishments have been about one thing, and that has been educational achievement. Obviously, that is an important part of their overall objective. However, I believe that there is much more to schools and the role that they can play in the communities that they service. Community use of schools and community services connectivity is an area that I feel very passionate about, and there is no doubt that there is a further need to weave that type of connectivity into our overall educational policies and improve our linkages with the Department for Communities, as Lord Morrow said earlier.”
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. Skills is an area that I am very interested in. I think of my constituency of Upper Bann and the industries that we have. Can the Minister outline what consideration he is giving to future skills needs, particularly in agrifood and life sciences?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will he just confirm that the figure of 392,000 referred to in the motion is not specific to cancer and that it actually is the entire waiting times? It is important to clarify that, given that we are discussing cancer.”
“To those who are suffering from cancer, fight on. We are here to support you and to work with the Minister on this important issue.”
“Their concerns are the financial hardship, the travel costs and the counselling needed for children who lose their mums and dads early in life. That is the message that the Minister needs to hear.”
“In fact, back in March, it was reported that over 54% of all cancer patients survived five years after diagnosis between 2004 and 2008, an improvement in comparison with 1993 to 1999, and it is improving in 2010 to 2014. You have to look at the improvements in bowel cancer since the bowel screening programme began in 2012. There is no doubt that there are more cases of cancer appearing in men and women, but we have the City Hospital and places like the Mandeville unit. My colleague referred to the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin. We also have the cancer research lab that is doing amazing work. <BR /> <BR />The message today for the Minister is that there needs to be a wrap-around service for cancer. It is not that people are scathing of the service that they receive.”
“My aim today, as I said, is to provide reassurance to the women who will have concerns from today: you will be seen by the Southern Trust, and, if you are in need of surgery, you will get it. <BR /> <BR />Amazing work has been going on and continues in Northern Ireland. Since the Campbell report in 1995, cancer treatment services and diagnosis have been nothing short of transformational, and that is very evident in the survival rates.”
“I encourage anyone to look at the services that the Mandeville unit provides, and they will see clearly the excellent work that is ongoing. Members should realise that the figures are very specific to a time in the Southern Trust diary when one of its members — a leading consultant — passed away. Unfortunately, you cannot plan for that. I encourage people to be reassured that the trust is back to its 100% performance on its 14-day, red-flag targets for breast cancer referrals. <BR /> <BR />We are all too aware of the fact that Northern Ireland has areas of specific speciality, and it is difficult when there is movement of staff or, as I alluded to, illness or death. In fact, we are not dissimilar to the rest of the UK and Europe in that sense.”
“With over one hundred forms of cancer and one in three people suffering, there is a very real need for a cancer strategy that will address the overall associated problems, be it waiting times or dealing with this epidemic. <BR /> <BR />I was very disheartened and somewhat surprised by the form that the motion took. Even the title, with its talk of deterioration, will strike fear, dread, concern and anxiety into women across the country who will see these figures, which, we have been told, are incorrect. It has whipped up hysteria around this. The motion also mentions the Southern Trust, which is most unfortunate. Craigavon Area Hospital, which is in my constituency, operates in the Southern Trust. It is a fantastic hospital that runs the Mandeville unit.”
“Just recently, Paint the Town Pink, a fantastic event in my constituency raised thousands of pounds in an effort to save lives. <BR /> <BR />Today, I want to talk to people and reassure them. The motion, unfortunately, is specific to one cancer, which does a disservice to people throughout our Province who suffer from many different forms of cancer. For instance, it was brought to my attention recently that there is no robotic surgery for urology treatment, and I am working with the Minister to resolve that. I am very content that she recognises that there is a problem with prostate cancer treatment and is working to address it.”
“I support much of what my colleague has already said. Cancer is a thief and a home wrecker. It steals people away all too quickly, as we have heard so eloquently today. It is no respecter of age; it is a parasite and a plague on our society. Unfortunately, it has become a word that we all hear all too often, and it is often associated with children and the death of loved ones. However, we also hear about the victories against cancer, and that should be the message of today. We are encouraged by those victories. I do not defend the indefensible, but I congratulate, commend and encourage all the staff, consultants, nurses and scientists as well as all the charities that are involved day and daily in saving lives from this terrible parasite.”
“I thank the Minister for that very positive response. You will be aware that one in five pregnancies miscarry. Women who present at A&E — particularly at weekends, when early pregnancy clinics are not open — are often subjected to long waits and toilet facilities that are not appropriate. Can the Minister give assurances to the House that she is going to prioritise the suggestions made by the Patient and Client Council and improve the overall service offered at this difficult time?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon. Can he outline the impact that area planning could have on the Dickson plan?”
“Thank you for giving way. I agree to a degree about poverty and the links with obesity, but I have to say that I represent a constituency that has both poverty and affluence, and I can assure you that there are the same health issues in the affluent areas as there are in the areas of poverty.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. What is his Department doing to tackle long-term staff suspensions and their cost to school budgets?”
“I thank the Minister for his very keen interest in this matter. I brought it to his attention when the news broke, and I really appreciate him coming down to the constituency and meeting the organisation. What steps are the Department's employment services taking to assist the employees in Banbridge to find or prepare for new employment?”
“I appreciate the way in which the Member has outlined his position, but my concern is that £18 million is not a significant amount of money in the grander scheme of things. I do not want to see this £18 million go into the ether and disappear. It needs to be quite a focused activity and programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />The benefits of this money being ring-fenced for education are immeasurable, and I have no doubt that it will go a long way in creating a fitter, more active, higher-performing generation of young people. Whilst it will come to the Finance Department, this money will give an Education solution, but it will have immeasurable benefits for the Department of Health in the long run, so we are really cutting across the entire Government portfolio. Therefore, I ask Members to support the motion.”
“There are a few statistics that I want to leave you with. Research by the University of Ulster shows that in 2004-05, only 5% of schools in Scotland offered two hours or more of PE; 10 years later, they are sitting at 98% participation in two hours of physical education. The stark contrast is that Northern Ireland has only 8%. The Institute of Chartered Physiotherapists suggests that regular exercise can lead to better concentration, learning skills and self-esteem, and one major US study found that integrating moderate-intensity physical activity into academic lessons in primary school resulted in a 6% increase in performance in standardised academic tests.”
“It is increasing their participation in competitive sports outside schools, and parents have also noticed that their children want to do more outside and to involve themselves in more physical exercise. We all know that we are in an era of electronic devices, and it is vitally important that we try and engage our children to enjoy the outside world as well. <BR /> <BR />Major studies have examined this issue and found a strong relationship between the amount of PE offered and a child's obesity risk and age-adjusted BMI. In the US, a study found that an extra 60 minutes of PE per week in primary schools lowers a child's age-adjusted BMI score by 10% and reduces the possibility of obesity by 5%. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, we support the amendment, because ultimately it just continues what the motion calls for.”
“The statistics clearly demonstrate that, within the UK, Northern Ireland has the least active children. With a group of individuals, Kevin put together a 16-week physical literacy programme, aimed not just at getting kids back to fitness but assessing their progress with detailed data and video analysis to show just how well the children have done. So far, the project has seen 942 children tested, and it is expected that 2,000 will be tested before Christmas. <BR /> <BR />The project has four strands: professional coaching in schools; the "golden mile", which enables children to run round their pitches for 15 minutes, twice a week; habit building; and performance monitoring. From this programme, there has clearly been an increase in children's stamina and speed.”
“Kevin Creery from Tannaghmore Primary School has spearheaded it, and he is on record as having said:”
“Pupil:teacher ratios prevent PE classes for changing purposes. We see poor facilities and, I believe, a lack of creativity in our syllabus. We need to see fun activities that will engage these children and young people. This money could be used to expand on initiatives that are already operating and that would ultimately result in a mandatory two hours per week physical education programme and help keep their little bodies healthy. No one wants to see their child overweight. <BR />An excellent initiative has recently been piloted in my own constituency of Upper Bann. It is an innovative and creative programme aimed at getting our primary-school children fit and healthy. Healthy Kids has been running for two years and has already expanded into 17 local schools.”
“<BR /> <BR />The sole aim of this motion is to garner support and allow for early preparation in the Department of Education for a physical education programme in schools that will allow for increased physical activity at an early age. Currently, in the schools curriculum, it is suggested that there should be two hours of physical education for children aged between four and 16. Unfortunately, whilst two hours is the suggested amount, many are getting just one hour per week, on average. The reality is that 36% of children in P1 to P3 get less than one hour per week. At this early age, we all know that children are absolutely bubbling to get out of the classroom and use some of their energy. We also know that bad habits are hard to break. I do not blame this on teachers, I probably blame it on a lack of investment.”
“I read that the cost to the Health budget represents 3% of the Department's overall spend. <BR /> <BR />My thought on the motion is that, surely if we can invest to prevent, it should be a priority for the House. The figure of £18 million has been suggested by the Department of Health's obesity prevention steering group, and will potentially reduce year on year, which is welcome because it means that drinks will be reformulated to a healthier combination. This is about penalising the companies who produce drinks with a higher sugar content, and ensuring that we make the best use of this resource to tackle and prevent obesity.”
“Under the Barnett formula, we will obtain our share of the tax, which is aimed at the producers, not the consumers, of soft drinks. <BR /> <BR />It is a stark fact that in Northern Ireland 22% of children are classed as obese or overweight in primary 1. By the time they reach year 8, this has risen to 29%. All the studies show that being overweight is preventable through healthier choices of food that are accessible and affordable and regular physical activity. The reality is that obesity problems manifesting in primary 1 and upwards are being carried forward into early and later adulthood. The estimated cost of obesity to the Northern Ireland economy and the health service is around £370 million per year, through absence from work and problems with ill health.”
“I bring the motion today in the hope that we leave a legacy for the children and adults of the future. I want to commend Neil Johnston of Chest, Heart and Stroke for his very proactive lobbying and hope that this will get cross-party support. We do not want to look back and see a history of wasted money or missed opportunities. We want to see, in this mandate, a focus on our children's health. This is a unique opportunity to shape and set in place a programme of healthier living. The £18 million that I refer to, very clearly comes as new money to this devolved Government. It is not costing us anything but is, in essence, a windfall from the UK Government, following the introduction of the sugar tax, or, to give it its correct title, the soft drinks industry levy.”
“— I want just to impress upon you the need for early testing.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I look forward to receiving that information. The concerns raised were very much that this disease normally manifests in children, and you can be a carrier of it. So, a lot of concern was raised about the fact that early testing and —”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Can he outline any ongoing cooperation between the North/South education and training standards committee and other jurisdictions?”
“I encourage the House to get behind the WASPI campaign and commend the campaigners on how hard they have worked.”
“The women who worked throughout this period did so when the gender pay gap was even more significant than it is now, until a so-called remedy was implemented by the Equal Pay Act 1970. These women do not have gold-plated pension pots to look forward to but rather are reliant on the state pension to help them through retirement. The reality is that the age discrimination Act did not apply when these women were seeking employment. Studies that were carried out recommended implementation over anything between 10 and 15 years. The Parliamentary Select Committee recommended 10 years, and this should be the minimum amount of time.”
“Many are now reliant on small amounts of savings to top up their modest pension. Let us be honest: women who are single, divorced or widowed are amongst the most heavily affected — women that have given so much to our society but, owing to this change in legislation, they have no other source of income and have been subjected to going to the jobs and benefits office to inquire about JSA and consider going into zero-hour contracts. As my colleague Emma Pengelly highlighted, they are also having to look at very heavy-duty jobs. I do not think that that is acceptable in this day and age. <BR /> <BR />A woman born in early 1953 received her pension in November 2015. However, a woman born one year later will not receive her pension until May 2019. This is a delay of around three years because of the Pensions Act 2011.”
“<BR /> <BR />As an Executive, we have highlighted mental health and physical well-being as being a key issue to address during this mandate. This is certainly having an effect on the mental health and well-being of the women within our society, and we have heard today of many of them. Cases have been brought to me in Upper Bann. One, for instance, is a lady who is caring for an ill husband and is also caring for a mum who has Alzheimer's. That is the harsh reality; these people are now carers. We have got to take this into account and think of the contribution that they are making to society even through that caring role. <BR /> <BR />Like most Members, I have been contacted by constituents who are gravely concerned about these changes and who are worried about how this will affect them financially.”
“For anyone who is planning financially with regard to cash flow, one year's notice is not sufficient. I believe that a wrong has been committed, and the Government should be held to account. My colleagues at Westminster have highlighted this matter, and I commend our DUP team on the Westminster benches for their robust action against the way in which this is being brought forward and the fact that they have been very vocal and supportive of the WASPI campaign. We need a fair transitional process for the many thousands of women — our colleague mentioned that there were 68,000 — in Northern Ireland. That is a sizable number of our population. We need a very fair transitional process for those 68,000 people.”
“I thank those who brought the motion forward. I will speak in favour of it, and I commend those who have already spoken in support of the motion. <BR /> <BR />My research and engagement with affected women in the Upper Bann constituency has highlighted that this is not an equalisation issue — as has been mentioned throughout the debate — but an implementation issue. Its implementation has been what I would class as rather clumsy and badly communicated. Let us be honest: it is a blunt and crude instrument that the Government have used as a saving technique, and it is not a case of equalising the playing field. <BR /> <BR />Communication from the Government to date on this issue has been lamentable. Many women have not been informed at all of the changes and others have received one year's notice.”
“Will the Minister outline to the House any similar or equivalent initiatives to that of Líofa?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I welcome your point about Lurgan show, the park and Brownlow House. Significant investment is needed to link them with the town centre. I welcome the council investment in Brownlow House, but I encourage the Executive to look at Brownlow House as well. You make a very valid point.”
“I look forward to exciting times for town centres, and I really look forward to the Minister informing us of exactly what he is doing. I want to commend the three town centres, because there has been over £11 million spent in them.”