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In a statement today, UUP Education spokesman Basil McCrea said,

“Parents across Northern Ireland will be dismayed that the Education Minister has so grievously mismanaged the Classrooms Assistant dispute. Now Northern Ireland’s schools face impending industrial action, disrupting the education of our children. The blame for this state of affairs lies entirely with Caitriona Ruane.

Having spent her time as Minister pursuing ideological hobby-horses, the Education Minister has failed in her duty to address the practical issues considered to be of first importance by Northern Ireland parents and teachers.

Classroom Assistants are crucial in delivering quality education in our schools. The Minister’s high-handed approach in dismissing the case of the Classroom Assistants undermines her fine words about their importance in the education of our children. The pay, career structure and conditions of Classroom Assistants should reflect their central role in our children’s education.

Now that the Assembly has backed my Party’s motion calling on the Minister to constructively intervene, I trust that the Minister will heed the Assembly’s voice and act now to prevent disruption in our schools”.

UUP Police Board Member Basil McCrea has described as premature moves to wind down the numbers in the Full-Time Reserve. The plans, unveiled today by the Chief Constable, involve cutting numbers from 680 to 381 starting in April next year, followed by the remainder gradually by March 2011.

The Lagan Valley MLA did say however that the packages on offer appeared at first glance to be generous and the manner of the winding down, if it must happen, was sensible.

In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“I feel this move is premature given the not insignificant threat still posed by dissident elements. Public order problems may also still arise although the relatively peaceful parading season this year has been encouraging. The public are however crying out for more policemen and women on the streets as incidents of anti-social behaviour, and ‘normal’ crimes, if such a term exists, are on the increase. To me the PSNI should be reassuring people that this downgrading and eventual ending of the full-time reserve makes sense. To me, in the current circumstances it does not.

However, at first glance the packages on offer do appear to be generous and the manner in which the reserve is being wound down, if it must indeed happen, is sensible and sensitive to the membership of the reserve.

I and my Party will be studying the detail of this proposal before giving a fuller response.”

Ulster Unionist Police Board Member and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea said of the Police Ombudsman’s report today,

“Yet again the Police Ombudsman has clumsily and simplistically waded into our society’s painful past. The murder of Rosemary Nelson was a heinous act – one of many heinous acts that occurred during the Troubles. Ms. O’Loan is very well aware that her actions are contributing to a highly politicised attempt to re-write the history of 30 years of violence.

As our society seeks to move away from three decades of violence and paramilitarism, during which the Royal Ulster Constabulary contained the threat posed by terrorists to the entire community, what has the appearance of ideologically inspired investigations into only part of our past have the potential to undermine political progress.

There can be no doubt that we as a society should hold the agents of the State to infinitely higher standards than the actions of those who engaged in terrorist violence. That is not the issue for debate. The debate is about the selective and partisan nature of inquests into our painful and troubled past”.

Ulster Unionist Education spokesman and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea today said Education Minister Catriona Ruane was dodging key questions in education. In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“We have many great schools in Lagan Valley. The threat of closure, merger or take over weighs heavily on every bodies mind. Confusion, fear and Stress stalk the classroom and those waiting outside the schools. What is happening they ask? If one of the problems with the 11+ was the stress that it induced, the current situation is 10 times worse. Some pupils in Year 5 have now started tests again. We look to the Minister for Education for some guidance and get nothing only smiles and soft words.

Her decisions appear muddled and confused. Why did she open the three schools and close the fourth. Why has she not tackled the more pressing issues which require urgent attention?

It does seem rather arrogant, provocative even and it certainly does not appear to be a strategy designed to encourage engagement, cooperative working and buy-in.

This may be a misunderstanding, I have heard her say on many occasions that she will meet with the committee and she will listen to their views but and there is always a “but”, if she can’t convince them she will then do it her way.

This does not appear to be a winning strategy, it suggests a lack of confidence, an inability to make a cogent argument and such an approach has profound implications for the long term future of this Assembly.

There are decisions to be made, hard decisions and but these decisions should not be made in an arbitrary manner. Given the divided nature of our society and the need to build a consensus before anything happens, the central role of the Assembly in this process must be respected.

When will the Minister bring forward for debate issues such as academic selection, Irish medium, numeracy and literacy, early years?

These issues are of huge interest to the public and would inform both her and the public. The Minister appears to believe that if she smiles sweetly, and uses comforting words that this will suffice. It won’t! Education in all its forms has profound implications for society and it is time we talked about the issues and made some decisions.”

Following a vote in the Assembly supporting a UUP motion to oppose any attempts to replace the national minimum wage with regional variants, UUP Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea said in a statement,

“The minimum wage is about trying to ensure fairness and equity in the employment market. It is designed to look after the many people who work hard at jobs that require only modest, formal qualifications. The minimum wage is their safeguard to a fair wage for a fair day’s work and we must resist any attempts to reduce it or tinker with it.

It is equally important that we provide the correct incentive for those people who are currently on benefits but that are able to enter the job market. Maintaining the differential between benefits and entry level jobs is of paramount importance to the future growth of our economy.”

Basil McCrea MLA, UUP Spokesman on Education warned today of the impending disaster of a Classroom Assistants

strike, and calls on the Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane to take control of the situation.

“I am deeply concerned that the Minister for Education has refused to intervene in Classroom Assistant dispute.

Within a week, this vulnerable group of people, many of whom are women, will be forced to take a decision on

strike action. This potential disaster could and should, be averted by swift Ministerial action.”

Many Classroom Assistants are owed substantial amounts of back pay, but under the new arrangements not only will

they see this back pay slashed, but they will be forced to work longer hours, for less money. The situation is

so unfair, and potentially so serious that it is impossible to understand why the Minister of Education considers

it inappropriate for her to intervene.

The Classroom Assistants, I have spoken to, are angry and disappointed that despite the warm words of supported

from the Minister and the unanimous support of the Assembly little has been done to resolve the situation.

They are reluctant to strike, they worry about the impact on their family finances and they are acutely aware of

the impact that their actions will have on the schools, the parents and most importantly the children, but they

feel so let down, so used and abused, that many feel that strike action is the only way to resolve a situation

that is clearly unfair.

Classroom assistants are being picked on by faceless bureaucrats in a penny pinching attempt to save money. The

Minister for Education must get involved, if this were a “Foot and Mouth Emergency” the department would be

meeting now in emergency session. What is the point of having locally elected Ministers if they do not intervene

in when disaster threatens?

The Minister for Education cannot stand idly by, whilst people who do so much for our children and our society

are forced in to a corner. It is not fair on the Classroom Assistants, it is not fair on the children and for a

politician that champions equality at every opportunity, it is high time she lived up to her rhetoric.”

UUP Education spokesman and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea today commented on pupils receiving their A level results. In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“Today’s A level results demonstrate once again the excellence of our education system. Many young people will be delighted with their individual results and it is important that we as a society offer our congratulations to them, but it is also important to commend the efforts of teachers and parents who have supported them over the last seven years.

In today’s society some people seem overly eager to devalue the achievements of young people, but I believe that the record high marks now being achieved are the product of the hard work and perseverance by our young people who are able to take advantage of the first class education offered across Northern Ireland

Our society must recognise the value of education not only to the individual but to society as a whole. The world in which we live is changing rapidly and with each day that passes it becomes more and more apparent that the ability to learn is the only enduring competitive advantage.

Without encouragement and a supportive environment many of our young people would fail to maximise their potential, and they and our society would be unable to compete in the global economy.

Within the excellent results there will be those who will feel disappointed and there will be others whose personal triumph is overshadowed by those with higher grades. We must reassure them all, that A levels are merely “Stepping stones” to the next phase of their lives, they do not define an individuals worth, and in a few short years they will be a dim and distant memory. What happens next is the really important issue and the world is full of opportunity.

Our entire education system is under pressure and given the importance of education to long term prosperity this will alarm parents, teachers and pupils. Whilst there is an undoubted need to address the plight of those for whom the educational system has not been a success, we must be careful not “to through the baby out with bathwater”. Our education system is a precious thing, we must take care to nourish and protect it and we must take every opportunity to explain the benefits and encourage all sections of our community to take advantage of the opportunities presented.”

Commenting in response to today’s court ruling which allows former RUC officers to proceed with claims relating to the trauma they suffered during the Troubles, UUP Policing Board member, and Lagan Valley MLA, Basil McCrea said:

“In his ruling, the judge rightly identified the emotional stress of serving in the midst of a terror campaign as being every bit as devastating as the physical effect of bomb and bullet. So many of us will never know the stress experienced by those who served in Northern Ireland during the murderous heights of terrorist violence.

“We presently enjoy a period of peace which owes much to the commitment and dedication shown by men and women of the RUC down through the years. This court ruling recognises their pain and trauma in standing tall against the forces of terror. I trust today’s judgement goes some way toward offering some solace and restitution for former officers.”

UUP Spokesperson on Victims Issues Derek Hussey welcomed the determination as it would “enable those officers who undoubtedly have suffered extreme stress and trauma to seek what they are entitled to”.

He added: “Throughout the period of our ‘Troubles’ there were those who claimed to be victims and now the courts have recognised the victimisation of our security forces.”

Speaking after being appointed Chair of the Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee on the Policing Board today, UUP MLA Basil McCrea said,

“I am very aware of the heavy responsibility that has been placed on me as the chair of the Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee.  I firmly believe that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is a model of best practice with regards to its commitment to human rights and I look forward to working with the Service to build on this reputation.  I also believe that policing is integral to securing the rights of the community against the criminals.  For too long, the language of rights has been used to undermine policing when, in fact, policing protects and preserves the rights of law-abiding individuals, families and communities across Northern Ireland.

Every citizen throughout the United Kingdom rightly expects the police to abide by human rights standards - and every police officer also has a legitimate expectation that his or her rights will also be recognised and protected.  I trust that with all political parties now stating their support for the PSNI and the rule of law, the Policing Board, PSNI, elected representatives and the entire community can move forward on the basis of respect for the vital role played by the police in protecting the rights of all.”

Ulster Unionist Police Board Member and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea, speaking ahead of the first meeting of the new Policing Board today, said that Sinn Fein’s attitude and approach within the Board, coupled with the security briefings provided at meetings, should be the key deciders in whether or not the devolution of Policing and Justice can happen.

In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“Only if Sinn Fein engages fully with the PSNI and other members of the Policing board both in public and private can the devolution of policing and justice be considered.  The decision by Sinn Fein to nominate representatives with a terrorist background is a calculated move, the significance of which will not be lost on Sinn Fein’s grass roots. However, it is seen by the Unionist community as a provocative action, reinforcing the fear that the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP is merely a marriage of convenience, a change in tactics but not a change in attitudes.  It is apparent that despite the devolution of many issues to Stormont, the key questions regarding the future of Northern Ireland remain unanswered.  Will Sinn Fein and the people it represents, unambiguously support the PSNI?

From a Unionist perspective, the attitude and approach of Sinn Fein within the policing board, along with the security information provided at such meetings will be the key factors in deciding whether our society is ready to accept the devolution of policing and justice powers.  Others will not doubt seek to assure themselves of the impartiality of the PSNI and the effectiveness of the oversight arrangements.  The board should consider these matters for the benefit of all the citizens of Northern Ireland but on no account will the Board permit the operational independence of the PSNI to be brought into question.

The devolution of policing and justice can only be considered if and when public opinion supports such a move.  The attitude and effectiveness of the Policing Board will play a pivotal role in any such decision.  Any suggestion that additional information provided under “Privy Council” terms would enhance the decision making process would not only run contrary to the openness and transparency required to secure public confidence, but would actually destroy the basis for devolution of such powers.”