MP’s bill to cut uniform costs clears hurdle

ABILL tabled by a Runcorn MP aimed at slashing the cost of school uniforms is a step closer to becoming law after it passed a vital hurdle in parliament.

Mike Amesbury MP’s private member’s bill would change the law to make uniforms more affordable by establishing a “fair and open tendering process”.

He said that at present, many schools insist on buying clothes from a single supplier.

Weaver Vale MP Mr Amesbury’s “Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill” passed its report and third reading stages in Parliament on Friday, March 12, having gained cross-party support and will now proceed to the House of Lords for their perusal before gaining Royal assent.

If the bill completes all the stages required to become legislation, it will become law.

This could happen before summer. A spokesman for Labour MP Mr Amesbury’s office said research by the charity has revealed families spend an average of £337 per year on uniform for each child at secondary school, while parents of primary school children spend £315.

During his speech to the Commons on Friday, Mr Amesbury said the bill will put affordability “centre stage” and help the “far too many children in hard-pressed families”.

He said opening up competition will help to reduce costs.

Mr Amesbury said: “For far too long, we have had single supplier relationships with schools or school communities and there has been no fair, open and transparent competition.

“This will help bring costs down for hard-pressed families, while maintaining quality and bringing into play other manufacturers, such as one in Northwich in my own constituency, that are excluded from the process at the moment.”

Speaking after the Commons session, Mr Amesbury thanked The Children’s Society and others for their support in backing the bill.

Mr Amesbury said: “I am absolutely pro school uniforms.

“They are a great social leveller and can work out cheaper as children are less pressured to wear the latest designer clothes.

“However, current school uniform policies are failing young people, who can face isolation and even exclusion for not being able to afford the ‘right’ clothes.

“We must not force parents to choose between putting food on the table and buying their school’s expensive branded gear, especially when budgets are so tight due to the impact of the pandemic.”

Mark Russell, The Children’s Society chief executive, said: “Expensive school uniforms have long been a burden for low income families.

“Last year we estimated that around a million families had cut back on food and other essentials to cover the costs. We are therefore delighted the bill has gone through and fairer priced school uniforms are closer to becoming a reality.

“This year children have already missed out on so much time in school and we hope no pupil risks missing more education because of high school uniform costs.

“We now encourage the government to work closely with Peers to give this Bill the best chance of becoming law.”