UUP table ‘potentially fatal’ amendment to Government motion on Draft Education Order
Ulster Unionists in the House of Lords have tabled what they have described as a “potentially fatal amendment” to the motion on the draft Education Order.
The full text of the reasoned amendment, which was submitted on Tuesday, reads: ‘The Lord Rogan—To move, as an amendment to the above motion, to leave out all the words after “That” and insert “this House declines to approve the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 until the people of Northern Ireland have been given the opportunity to approve the proposals contained therein in a manner analogous to the procedures followed in regard to similar proposed changes in England’.
The Lords debate is scheduled to take place on Monday.
In a statement, Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh said: “We have tabled what is potentially a fatal amendment to the government’s motion. The reasoned amendment we are putting down focuses on the lack of basic democratic rights.
“For example, in England no grammar school can be closed unless a local referendum takes place. I see no reason why Northern Ireland, as an integral part of the United Kingdom, should not enjoy similar rights.
“Education related to ability should be retained and where it is at risk, local parents should – as in England - be consulted and a vote taken. We feel that government ought to apply these principles in Northern Ireland.”
He added: “There is a yawning gap in accountability. Not only is the Order in Council system totally lacking in democratic merit, but the Order itself is being forced through by a governing party which no one in Northern Ireland has endorsed at election.
“The government reforms have consistently failed the test of public opinion. In the Household Survey element to the Burns Report, 64% of parents, and 62% of teachers, opposed the reform proposals and opinion has hardened since then. The consultation on post-primary arrangements had 14,000 respondents - 90% of which contained objections. Other opinion polling has told a similar story.
“Therefore, the UUP amendment gives primacy to the wishes of the electors and sets about restoring local accountability.”
Concluding, he said: “Failure of this system in England is recognised as having cost pupils from socially deprived backgrounds the chance of greater social mobility.
“We are actively canvassing colleagues for support for this reasoned amendment.”