David Brooks
East Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Does the Member accept that our position, as it has been laid out and although it is different from hers, is that schools should have autonomy to decide those things? It is not about appointing anyone, least of all men specifically, to make those decisions; it is about school leadership.”
“I recognise that the Member is being genuine, as all Members have been as they have laid out their reasoning, and I have some sympathy with that. However, Northern Ireland is being portrayed almost as an outlier.”
“We have seen some enthusiasm for private Members' Bills introduced by those on the Benches opposite progressing at speed, and I hope to see similar motivation for such a key issue as inspections. In the past — admittedly, when there was less time pressure — the Committee was generous with its time when hearing from stakeholders.”
“I will say a few words rather make a lengthy speech. The Justice Bill is coming up, and I am sure that my colleague Mr Frew will have that covered.”
“I echo the sentiments that racism is always wrong, but one of the pressures that are causing frustration is the lack of social and affordable housing, particularly in our most deprived communities. That has been exacerbated by Mears's operation.”
“I will not take lectures in scripture and Christianity from those who often spend their time opposing Christian values — I have no truck with such lectures. Equally, I say to those who have been involved in the violence that you will not rebuild a Christian nation by torching houses or cars or by attacking the police.”
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“Probably more to the point is the fact that where we have seen the outworking of such a policy elsewhere, successfully or otherwise, we know that, where the system has been tried, it has not been without complications.”
“If we are to get on with the business of delivering real change for families facing hardship and uncertainty in society, there must not be prevarication on our part in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />It seems to me that some people, very clearly, as they have outlined today in the media, want to see a cap in a different form in the Bill. I may well be unduly sceptical, but I do not think that their or our ultimate view on it will change because of a longer Committee Stage. I say to them that we have been, in principle, supportive of a cap and the Minister has, in the Bill, as has been mentioned, given himself the ability to bring it forward in the future if it is deemed necessary and beneficial.”
“<BR /> <BR />School uniforms are an issue on which there has been a greater degree of agreement — at least on the general direction — and I do not think that we require a similarly lengthy or quite so expansive process to allow those who have specific issues with our considerations of the Bill that they may wish to share with us to do that in a meaningful way. Most organisations — as is the case with our parties — will have considered it in the round already, will have already helped to inform the departmental consultation and will be able and prepared to share analysis with us. We need to ensure that the opportunity for points to be raised appropriately is there, but we also need to do it efficiently.”
“Yes. I will return to my comments on the amendment, Mr Speaker. I appreciate that. <BR /> <BR />The main point that I would draw from what I was talking about is that, with the considerable evidence gathering undertaken and the significant amount of Committee time given to it, I am not sure that many members ended up with a very different point of view or voting intention than the one that they had had at the start. Clearly, this is a slightly different proposition, and I acknowledge the Member's point about delivering scrutiny to a Bill, which is our primary role.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I think that he would recognise that I did give credit to the Chair. We might not all agree on what we would change, but I think that most members would say that there were probably aspects of what we undertook that we would relook at if we were put in the same position.”
“I do, of course, agree, and I thank him for the promotion to Chair, but I will not be challenging my Committee colleague for that role. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has recently undertaken its RSE inquiry. Respecting the differing views across the House, it was, at best, a misstep of Committee priorities, given the scale of challenges across education. In that not-so-mini inquiry, we heard many voices, mostly relevant but, often, with large degrees of duplication of arguments. Do not get me wrong: it was right that we heard from a spectrum of voices, and the Chair was trying to meet that challenge in good faith. I recognise the work and the challenge that he faced. We all shared a view that, if we were doing that over again, we would not undertake it in exactly the same way that we did.”
“The Committee must rightly exercise its primary function diligently and, of course, conduct appropriate engagement. There also needs to be an ambition to avoid undue delay, however. Although I have not been through this process before, my party colleague rightly pointed to much more complex and contentious legislation, such as the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which, he has just looked up and confirmed, took just 18 weeks —.”
“We have not heard any truly compelling reasons today for why the Bill could not make its way through each of its stages via a more ambitious timescale. Extending Committee Stage may well be right and necessary in certain circumstances, but I question whether it should be the business-as-usual approach for the legislative scrutiny process in this place. Again, I emphasise that more time for MLAs means a longer wait for hard-working families. Having given it due consideration, we felt that the balance struck was wrong and that an extension until 3 December was not something that we were prepared to go along with. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague said, the Department of Education has already undertaken significant consultation on the issue.”
“If we were to have the luxury of additional time, the cost would be to have parents wait a further year for its implementation. Members will be well aware of the complexities around timelines for the Bill, which, if implemented fairly, means having regard not only to the school term and prospectuses but to lead-in and turnaround times for local retailers to ensure that they are not left holding stock that they may be unable to sell should local schools change their uniform policy as a result of the legislation. <BR /> <BR />With all of that having been rightly considered, my colleague and I tabled the amendment because we believe that we should be doing what we can to ensure that parents feel the benefits of the legislation as soon as possible.”
“In making the winding-up speech on our amendment, I do not need to rehearse the arguments for the entire Bill. As has been said before, the Bill has been well discussed in this place, and, in fairness, all parties will acknowledge that their general aims and wishes are not that far removed from one another's. <BR /> <BR />There is not much new in what I can add to what my colleague Peter Martin said earlier and what others covered throughout the debate. As has been stated, our concern is that extending the Committee Stage until 3 December 2025 rather than until 30 August would mean that the main provisions in the Bill would not become operational until September 2027 rather than September 2026. Such a delay would be unnecessary and unacceptable, and we should do all the work that we can to implement the Bill as early as possible.”
“While the Member is on the subject, does he accept that, whilst we chose not to divide the Committee, we made our concerns known in Committee, on our part at least?”
“When I was a Belfast city councillor, we were very proud of our links to our sister city, Nashville, Tennessee, which also happens to be the home of Andrew Jackson, to whom the Minister's constituency has strong links. Will the Minister therefore encourage our councils to get involved in that special celebration?”
“— will be aware of the effect that that has on other areas. Are there any powers that the Department can bring to bear to push councils to provide appropriate local recycling services or to make it easier for councillors to collaborate in that area?”
“Minister, the question is borne out of the frustration of my constituents in Millmount, who routinely face fly-tipping in their area. Many of them, like me, point to the abject failure of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to provide adequate recycling facilities to the significant population of Dundonald. You, as a former Ards and North Down councillor —”
“Some of that approach to policing is undertaken by some very good neighbourhood policing teams. Among the frustrations fed back to me, and, I am sure, to you, by the community is that officer rotations happen all too frequently and, at times, when the trust that makes relationships possible has just been built. Is there anything that you can do to encourage consideration of how that works and whether greater stability can be brought to neighbourhood policing teams?”
“At a recent Education Committee meeting, the expert panel on educational underachievement expressed concern that the allocation for 'A Fair Start' in 2024-25 amounted to £2·6 million or 6% of the £41·2 million that it had laid out in its action plan, despite it having cross-party support and being referenced in many manifestos. How does the Minister intend to support the Education Minister in delivering against that shortfall, which impacts particularly on our working-class communities?”
“— in Washington, Sinn Féin will go out, fundraise and tell Americans that they are on their side.”
“The paper speaks against it, yet, despite not going to the White House —”
“We are proud of the next-generation light anti-tank weapons (NLAW), which became so symbolic of Ukrainian defence in the early stages of the war. <BR /> <BR />I will say one thing for Sinn Féin: it is consistent. Its paper 'Defending Irish Neutrality' is really a critique of successive Irish Governments who wished to invest more in their defence. I encourage the Republic of Ireland to look again at that, because it has freeloaded on the backs of NATO and others for some time. This is what makes me incredulous: Sinn Féin, despite carrying out terrorist campaigns that bombed the heart out of our economy for 30 years, asking the Irish state to continue not to invest in its own defence and to freeload on the backs of others. That reinforces the fact that the only place that Sinn Féin supports US foreign policy has been in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />The deal is about providing defence to a country that lies outside NATO, did not have those defences and has had to face a Russian aggressor in an illegal war. The Ukrainian people have had to fight that war with support largely from this country, Europe, the United States and other NATO allies — real freedom fighters, real soldiers, who stood face to face with the enemy. Last week, in the Chamber, we had talk of one of the heroes of those on the Benches opposite — a man who left a bomb outside a bar on the Shankill Road — yet they criticise the UK Government for wanting to provide munitions to those who are fighting a real aggressor in eastern Europe. The people of East Belfast are proud of the role that companies in our constituency have played and will continue to play.”
“In response to that, the First Minister said that she was incredulous that the Government would spend that money, and spend it in Northern Ireland, because she thought that it would be better spent on other things. <BR /> <BR />There is a lack of understanding from the First Minister. We have had many years of peace in this country and across Europe because of the defence that this country has provided, along with the United States and other NATO allies, in the wake of the Cold War. At the time of Brexit, there was a lot of talk about how the EU, in and of itself, having been formed after the world wars, had provided that peace across Europe. What we know is that peace was maintained largely by Europe in cooperation with the United States through NATO, which kept the Russian aggressor at bay.”
“I will address the comments made by the First Minister in the Chamber yesterday about the investment set out in the Prime Minister's statement that will see £1·6 billion spent on defence for Ukraine, with 5,000 missiles to be manufactured in my constituency, which will result in the recruitment of 200 additional staff and the securing of many other jobs.”
“I appear to have lost the last sheet of my speech, which is helpful. The Minister, as he said, has future-proofed many aspects of the Bill so that, if schools do not comply in the initial stages, they know that the legislation will have teeth to ensure that they will and that there is fairness for all our families. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Bill, as I think that we all do, and I look forward to engaging with it at Committee Stage.”
“; thanks to my colleague there — that some team wear, such as Prostar, from back in the day, provides very good value for money for sports kit at a low level, but, technically, it is branded. I fear that, in looking at these things, we sometimes simplify them and risk reducing choice and value. That is probably getting into the weeds of it, but it is important that we have those discussions at Committee Stage, because things that provide sound bites sometimes need further investigation. <BR /> <BR />While the Minister is not proposing a price cap, he has reserved the power to do so if necessary, and that serves as a deterrent.”
“There are different levels of brands, so it is about how we deal with that, because these things can sometimes make for simple sound bites. The likes of Adidas and Nike and so on are at the top of the chain. Other brands that we are familiar with from team wear that we have seen in schools, such as Kukri, O'Neills and others, are mid-level. I know, as do others who have played sport — it has been some time, admittedly, since I played sport, as you would know”
“Rural Members, particularly but not exclusively, will know, however, that some of our independent retailers provide a great value-for-money service and can ensure the availability of items in a way that supermarkets and other providers ultimately cannot. It is important that we are fair in that. <BR /> <BR />Most of us here have been pushing in the same direction on the issue; however, I recognise that some aspects are more complex than they may initially seem. I know from discussion on 'The Nolan Show' in recent weeks that there is some enthusiasm for completely banning branded goods. I support the Minister in his position that branded PE kits should not be made compulsory. There are some things to consider, however — we will probably bring this out in Committee — particularly on branded sports gear.”
“Some naysayers have downplayed that move, but let us be clear about this: the Department is no longer asking schools to review their policies; it is mandating them to take action. The Minister is not only embedding the rules in legislation but ensuring that the ETI, in future school inspections, will hold our schools accountable, preventing any school ignoring the guidance without oversight. <BR /> <BR />There is often talk of being able to buy generic items in supermarkets rather than buying from independent retailers because of the value of those items. The Bill will, helpfully, see schools publish the places where their uniform can be purchased, and it will guard against exclusivity agreements that, at times, can restrict a market and make parents captive to a set product and price. That can be an unacceptable practice.”
“It is deeply counterproductive when uniforms themselves become a source of financial pressure, reinforcing rather than reducing social divides. No family should ever feel that the cost of a uniform determines whether they can send their child to a particular school. No child or parent should ever feel that the child's place on a school sports team is unattainable because the kit is not affordable. That is why I welcome the Minister's decision to require schools to consult parents and pupils. <BR /> <BR />Thanks to the Bill, as has been said, schools will have to publish information on how they have met that obligation, along with the rationale behind their uniform policies. I strongly support the Minister's giving legal force to uniform guidance.”
“That aligns, as the Minister said, with the public consultation in June 2024: over 77% of the 7,500 responses supported making school uniform policy guidance statutory. Like them, I welcome the Minister's clear and decisive action in advancing the policy through legislation. While the majority of schools already act responsibly in this regard, the Bill sends a clear message to any minority that may continue to prioritise image and vanity over family finances that such practices will no longer be tolerated. <BR /> <BR />The purpose of a school uniform is, of course, to instil professionalism and discipline while ensuring pupil comfort, but, crucially, it is also meant to prevent children from being judged by what they wear and to avoid a stark contrast between the families who can afford expensive brands and the families who cannot.”
“Many of us will remember from our childhood the financial strain on parents as they tried to afford expensive uniforms. I certainly recall visits to the local independent outfitters where blazers that were a little too big were bought in the hope that they would last a little longer. On top of that came the cost of school shoes, bags and stationery. Those trips to the local outfitters often coincided with visits to Eason or local sports shops for the other bits and pieces that you needed. There are costs upon costs at the tail end of a summer when parents have often faced the increased costs of meeting children's needs through the holiday period. <BR /> <BR />The DUP wants to ensure that all schools and school leaders prioritise affordability and consider the financial burden on families when setting uniform requirements.”
“Today's discussion, as we can already see, will be one where, while we may have some differences around the nuances and details, there is broad support for the direction of travel. On that basis, I thank the Minister for introducing and advancing the Bill, and I welcome the fact that he has done so. Like other Members, I look forward to the discussions at Committee and the scrutiny that we can give the Bill there. <BR /> <BR />The Bill delivers on a DUP manifesto pledge that was made in recognition of the ongoing financial pressures on families and the need to better support working parents. We all understand the significant and recurring cost of school uniforms, which becomes even more burdensome for families with multiple children, some of whom may attend different schools.”
“Does the First Minister agree, having spoken of some of those connections, that the establishment of Intertrade UK is an important step in resolving some of the frictions in east-west trade?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Prime Minister's statement underscores a broader vision for Europe's security architecture. His determination to assemble a coalition of willing nations to support Ukraine, while underlining the necessity of US backing and continuing cooperation with our closest ally, is welcome. There is a need for European nations to contribute more significantly to the region's defence and perhaps a greater need for those who have been freeloading under a guise of neutrality for so long to pay more than lip service to the defence of democratic values.”
“The partnership highlights the indispensable role that our skilled workforce plays in addressing global challenges. <BR /> <BR />The development is a testament to the dedication and world-leading expertise of the employees of Thales in Northern Ireland, who contribute to the defence of sovereignty and preservation of peace on an international scale. Their products are symbols of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, embodying our collective stand against aggression and support for democratic values. Moreover, the initiative serves as a catalyst for economic growth in our community. The creation of new jobs and the reinforcement of existing ones will have a ripple effect that will benefit not only those who are employed directly by Thales but the broader local economy.”
“Perhaps none of its products has been more renowned than the next generation light anti-tank weapon (NLAW), which became such a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in the early stages of the illegal Russian invasion. It gave local communities significant pride to know that that was Belfast's contribution to opposing tyranny. The recent surge in demand has led to a doubling of production at Thales's Northern Ireland facilities, with expectations of further growth. The collaboration between Thales and the UK Government exemplifies the synergy between public commitment and private industry. The Government's strategic investment not only bolsters Ukraine's defence capabilities but ensures the sustainability and expansion of our local industries.”
“Members will have noted that that is projected to create 200 jobs and sustain hundreds more, thus invigorating our local economy and reaffirming Northern Ireland's pivotal role in global defence manufacturing. I welcome that as a constituency MLA and as the deputy chair of the all-party group (APG) on aerospace, defence, security and space, which was established by and is chaired by my colleague Steve Aiken. <BR /> <BR />Thales's presence in Belfast has long been a cornerstone of our defence industry. The company's expertise in producing high-precision weaponry, including the renowned STARStreak, which is a lightweight, multirole missile system, has positioned it as a clear leader in the defence sector.”
“I welcome the Prime Minister's resolute commitment to Ukraine, as demonstrated by the announcement of a £1·6 billion support package that includes the provision of over 5,000 air defence missiles that will be manufactured right here in East Belfast. That initiative not only reinforces our dedication to international peace and European security but carries significant implications for our workforce in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is not a distant concern, and the overwhelming support for Ukraine has been clear across our communities and the UK since the beginning of the conflict. The missiles that are destined for Ukraine's defence will be manufactured by Thales in its Castlereagh facility.”
“Work also often costs more than it needs to. With that being evident, I cannot help but feel that greater flexibility, such as that which the Minister outlined, will be a net benefit for all. <BR /> <BR />I realise that I have run out of time.”
“To be fair to the chief executive of the Education Authority, who has inherited a system that is already crippled by a lack of resource, he was remarkably candid in his response to my questions at a recent Committee meeting, telling me that he had no satisfactory answers to give and that, although the authority's inability to meet some needs is not acceptable, it is, as we know, a matter of financial reality. Whether it be grass cutting, grounds maintenance, the provision of new equipment or issues with doors, windows or heating, the EA's maintenance is evidently badly frayed. Too often, it takes too long for work to be assessed and even longer to have it done. Anecdotally, there can be further delays to follow-up work as further issues emerge and required materials are not immediately available.”
“He is not only well aware of the issues in hand but, as he outlined to us today, keen to take action to improve the procurement system for our schools. The reality is that there has been a legacy of underinvestment that is placing budgets under significant strain at departmental level and at school level. That has led to something that is, sadly, neither uncommon nor unfamiliar across much of our public sector: resource being available only for the most urgent or pressing concerns, not for planned or routine maintenance. That is a false economy, as a lack of proper maintenance inevitably leads to bigger issues and greater costs in the longer term. <BR /> <BR />That is clearly recognised by those in charge.”
“We have all heard examples today. I recently visited Dundonald High School, with which, I know, the Minister is familiar. He will also be familiar with my lobbying for it and with the recent Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) report on the school. I thank the Minister for recently agreeing to visit the school at the earliest opportunity. My visit certainly opened my eyes to some of the struggles that some of our schools face. I spent a number of hours touring the school. I saw holes in the wall that, at the time, had been covered with Correx. There were issues with toilets, while science classrooms had only half of their gas taps functioning. <BR /> <BR />I could go on, but I am not telling the House or the Minister anything new or raising issues that do not predate the Minister's tenure.”
“It simply gives more specific direction to the motion's overall intention and outlines the way in which the Minister might work, as he described, to achieve the shared aim of us all, which, as is referenced in the motion, is to reduce unnecessary burdens and provide flexibility.”
“School procurement is, first and foremost, about serving our schools with good-value products and services. As we have heard not just today but at other times in the House, school leaders, who have to work within already restricted budgets, are clearly frustrated. They tell representatives like us that EA procurement is often more costly, and, from lobbying for works on behalf of schools, we know that it is far from efficient. <BR /> <BR />I support colleagues on the Benches opposite in their call for schools to be able to access the benefits of a free market economy and be unshackled from the detriments of the drag of big government inefficiency. Joking aside, as I said, our amendment is intended to be constructive, and I am thankful that it has been viewed in that way.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members opposite for tabling the motion. I, of course, support our constructive amendment, and I am thankful that Members around the House agree with it. <BR /> <BR />Trying to be prudent with finances not only because of a moral imperative around the good use of public moneys but because it is evidently in the interests of school leaders to use wisely the already strained budgets that they have access to is a no-brainer, yet it is clear from the interactions that we have all had with schools that, too often, the mandated adherence to EA contract procurement is a ball and chain that prevents and does not assist the procurement of appropriate, efficient and good-value services. When red tape gets in the way, we should rightly consider how to cut it back.”
“The Minister says that they have learned lessons from the original BRT scheme. How will she ensure that park-and-ride facilities have appropriate capacity so that parking does not become a scourge on communities, as it has in Dundonald and other parts of east Belfast?”
“Will the Minister, perhaps through Tourism NI, look at the best international examples of regulation — I am thinking particularly of Amsterdam's 30-day cap, which seems to have worked well there — to see what we can learn to bring better enforcement regulation here?”
“I know that the deputy First Minister has been involved for many years in engagement with the US on Northern Ireland's behalf. Given the change in Administration, does she agree that engagement in DC, in particular, is crucial to build those relations? The Finance Minister outlined just last week Northern Ireland's £1 billion worth of exports. There is a need to lobby for a special economic envoy. Does the Minister hope to undertake that engagement?”
“I understand that this may be a matter for NI Water, but does the Minister have any details on what that might mean for the Sydenham pumping station, particularly the scale and so on of the work? Will it be value engineered? What effect will that have?”
“<BR /> <BR />One example is on Tower Street, where Choice Housing has ambitions to develop much-needed social and affordable homes, and that is being held up largely due to the lack of a fit-for-purpose water management system. It is an example of where we know that plans have been delayed and halted, but many smaller sites of dilapidation have not been purchased or had plans submitted because the current dispensation means that any development would not be financially viable. <BR /> <BR />I am coming to the limit of my time, and I will leave it there.”
“<BR /> <BR />As my colleague Joanne Bunting said, it is also a serious issue for the development of our city, the growth of our economy, jobs and homes for young families. The Belfast Agenda wants 66,000 more people to live in our city centre, and there is an ambition to have more energy-efficient dwellings, but it is all being held back by our ageing water infrastructure. I fear that we are, in effect, beginning to outsource our water infrastructure to private developers, which means that developing small numbers of homes on small patches of land — what we generally have in East Belfast — can become financially unviable. That will drive up the cost of housing for first-time buyers and for those seeking to build or benefit from social and affordable homes and will add to the dilapidation in East Belfast.”