My Priorities

Jimmy Spratt was elected as MLA for South Belfast in 2007, topping the poll on the first count. Following the return of devolution, he was appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee for Employment and Learning at Stormont. In 2008, he left this role to take over from Rt. Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA as Chairman of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. He is also a DUP appointee to the Committee for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.


I firmly believe in the principle of academic selection, to ensure pupils are educated in schools that best suit their needs. At St. Andrews the DUP successfully had the principle of academic selection enshrined in legislation. Furthermore, we continue to strive toward an agreed way forward based on this legislative base, despite the intransigence of the Minister for Education.

South Belfast has many top class primary, grammar and secondary schools. We recognise the benefits these schools and academic excellence bring to our local economy and oppose the introduction of selection by social connection or ability to pay. Since each child has differing needs, a range of schools offering different educational options is essential for children to develop according to their individual skills.


One of the biggest problems in South Belfast is the rise in anti-social behaviour and the continuing problem of crimes such as burglary, assault and rape. To fight these crimes we must have a justice system were the punishment fits the crime. The justice system must be a deterrent to those who bring misery on our community through crime.

We must also have a Police Service which has the required manpower to provide effective community policing across South Belfast. The PSNI must not simply deal with the consequences of crime - it must work to be an active deterrent to crime.


I believe that there are several structural weaknesses in the Northern Ireland economy that must be overcome. These include over dependence on the public sector, a higher proportion of economically inactive people, low levels of investment in research and development and a shortage of many appropriate skills

We must see greater inward investment to aid our economy at this time. Furthermore, we must invest in the infrastructure of Northern Ireland to attract investment and aid indigenous firms to reduce costs to increase competitiveness.


I am a convinced devolutionist who firmly believes the Assembly can provide good government for the people of Northern Ireland. However, in our steps to cut down the size of government we must see a reduction in the number of MLAs and government departments


Devolution must deliver a better health service and patient experience for those in need. Sufficient staff is needed to prevent trolley-waits and unacceptable waiting times for treatment.

I want to see the resources we have used to maximum effect. Bureaucracy is currently crippling the health service. Staff morale must be improved. We need to train, recruit and retain more staff including professions allied to medicine. Health is one sector in particular that should benefit massively from local decision making and greater accountability. The focus must be on investing in health promotion, early intervention and prevention of illness at community level.

Cuts to front line service are unacceptable while waste continues within the Health service. The Minister must make the tough decisions, rather than simply take the headline grabbing approach while the service grinds to a halt.


The DUP believes that the rights of people to exercise their religious beliefs should be protected and that people should not be penalised for holding those views. In many regards the law in Northern Ireland recognises the Christian ethos of the province.

I oppose the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. Any change to this law must be only made when there is clear public support and when supported by the majority of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The DUP has opposed plans to allow homosexual couples to adopt children in Northern Ireland. The vast majority of people in the province are totally opposed to this measure. Again, for such an emotive issue, changes should only be made where it is clear that there is overwhelming public support or through the Northern Ireland Assembly.


The DUP has been at the forefront of highlighting the needs of many disadvantaged unionist communities throughout Northern Ireland. Whilst we were successful in lobbying for the £33 million package which was announced by the Government to tackle deprivation in Protestant/unionist areas, we believe that this should represent a start to a long-term strategy aimed at regenerating areas which have suffered from years of neglect.

There is a lack of educational achievement in many of these areas which requires early intervention to ensure that a generational cycle does not continue and that young people in these areas can leave school not just with qualifications but with aspirations to improve themselves.

I believe that the use of Targeting Social Need (TSN) criteria does not always target those with most need communities. There are many areas, particularly within South Belfast which do not fit within the TSN categorisation. There are sometimes pockets of great deprivation within these areas masked by the relative affluence of their neighbours.

A joined up approach between Government Departments is needed to tackle housing problems. There are high levels of dereliction as well as land available which could be used to develop new, low-cost homes for local people. Providing the opportunity for them to buy their own home can give people a stake in their community and a vested interest in the upkeep of their locality.