With the committee phase of the School Uniform Bill progressing, Alliance education spokespeople have repeated concerns that the Bill as it stands may not deliver for parents and young people.

Statutory guidance which is to dictate what schools are to comply with has still not been published by the Department and Education officials responsible for the Bill were not available to appear before this week's committee.
 
Chair of the Education Committee, Nick Mathison said: "This Bill needs to deliver lower costs for parents and carers and fairness for children and young people. The Bill places guidance for schools on a statutory footing. This guidance will be fundamental to what schools are required to do around branded items, affordability and reasonable adjustments, so to not have them means scrutiny is limited."
 
"We didn't support reducing the scrutiny period, as the DUP, Sinn Fein and other parties did, as we believed we needed more time to work through how we can ensure this Bill delivers, therefore we need the Department to come forward with the guidance urgently.
 
"Having taken evidence from young people, families, unions and organisations, we remain concerned that the Bill as introduced may not deliver."
 
Lagan Valley MLA, Michelle Guy said: "We have concerns that the Department are not taking the scrutiny of this Bill seriously. We have repeatedly been told the guidance for schools is forthcoming and yet the Committee still haven't seen it."
 
"In addition, Departmental officials were not made available to answer questions on the legislation at this week’s committee session. The Minister assured the Committee that officials would be available to support the Committee throughout their consideration stage, yet they are unavailable at a key stage of this process.
 
"In the continued absence of seeing the guidance, the Minister needs to be clear on fundamental aspect of this Bill, like how many branded items should be allowed, if schools should be allowed branded PE kits and if he supports mandating equality elements, such as girls wearing trousers."