Official Report (Hansard) Monday 1 October 2012 Volume 77, No 7 Session 2012-2013 Contents Assembly Business ......................................................................................................................... 1 Committee Membership .................................................................................................................... 2 Ministerial Statement s Adult Care and Support ..................................................................................................................... 3 Education: GCSEs and A Levels ....................................................................................................... 8 Exe cutive Committee Business Welfare Reform Bill: First Stage ........................................................................................................ 12 Private Members ’ Business Marriage Equality ............................................................................................................................... 13 Oral Answers to Questions Environment....................................................................................................................................... 28 Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..................................................................................................... 33 Private Members' Business Marriage Equality (continued) ............................................................................................................ 40 Education: GCSEs ............................................................................................................................. 41 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) McNarry, David (Strangford) Easton, Alex (North Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Farry, Stephen (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Ford, David (South Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) O'Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O'Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hay, William (Speaker) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hazzard, Chris (South Down) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Monday 1 October 2012 The Assembly met at 12.00 noon (Mr Speaker in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence. given the cut and thrust of debate in the House, Assembly Business but they should have the good grace to reflect and apologise when they are clearly out of line Mrs Cochrane: On a point of order, Mr and out of order. Mr Wells did that at the Speaker. outset. I have said in the House already that Mr Wells was very gracious in his apology, as was Mr Bell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mrs Cochrane, in accepting the apology. Mr Speaker: I will take Mrs Cochrane's point of As part of normal politics and the cut and thrust order, then Mr Bell's. of the Chamber, Members should expect robust debate and expect to be challenged about what Mrs Cochrane: Following the upset in the they say. There is nothing wrong with that. Chamber, last Tuesday evening, I wish to That is where the Deputy Speakers and myself inform the House that I have since received an should not get involved. Members of the House apology from Mr Wells, who, on reflection, can defend themselves very well, especially recognised that his remarks went beyond what when it comes to political debate in the is acceptable in the cut and thrust of debate. I Chamber. However, it is not acceptable when have accepted his apology. However, that remarks are offensive, personal, bad mannered does not excuse the behaviour of other and ill tempered. Over the past few weeks, we Members of the House who were seen quite have seen enough of that from all sides of the clearly on camera to resort to pack-like House. There is no doubt about that. The behaviour and to take pleasure in seeing House should give leadership, and I ask all someone upset. While some may be here for a Members to reflect on whether their general political game, I am here to work. This is, behaviour in recent weeks has done justice to therefore, a workplace. That type of bullying the Assembly and, especially, to the leadership behaviour is not acceptable in any other that is expected from Members of the House. workplace and should not be acceptable here. Mr Speaker, I ask, therefore, that you monitor Several times over recent weeks, I have that type of behaviour, as I feel very strongly reminded the House about the standards that that it is exactly the reason why many people, are expected of good courtesy, good temper including women, with a great deal to offer and moderation. I also ask Members to treat Northern Ireland do not get involved in politics. each other with courtesy and respect and to be mindful of the dignity of the Chamber in everything that they say. I hope that, over the Mr Speaker: Let me first deal with the issue. next number of weeks, we will all learn lessons As the Member said, she and Mr Wells met in and I will not have to return to this matter. my office last week, and Mr Wells gave a full and frank apology. I want to recognise that in Some Members continually want to rise in their the House. Let me also give credit to Mrs place just to offend other Members. Therefore, Cochrane, as she has dealt with the issue as Mrs Cochrane said, I will monitor the properly and not attempted to bring the Speaker situation. I will deal with the issue if a Member into party politics. Far too often in the House, says something that he or she should not have when, on reflection, Members know very well said during the cut and thrust of debate. They that they have said something they should not should reflect on it and at least have the have said and admit to that, they then try to decency to apologise. Let us leave it there. bring the Speaker into politics around the issue. That is something that I will not accept. I have to say that, on this occasion, that did not Mr Bell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. At happen. This is how issues such as this should the weekend celebrations of the Ulster be dealt with. A Member might get caught up in covenant, Northern Ireland saw one of the most the heat of debate, which is understandable, dignified, solemn and massive demonstrations 1 Monday 1 October 2012 in our history. I do not want to over-egg the Committee Membership pudding, but, although there were tens of thousands of Union flags there on the day,