PUPILS at Oakhurst Primary School discussed the big issue of the day after inviting North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson to host their very own parliamentary debate for them.

The Key Stage 2 youngsters voted and signed off their own bill calling for more time in school for sport.

Acting deputy head Paul Strange said: “I just thought it was fantastic for them to have an appreciation of how bills are passed and how democracy affects them.”

Offered the choice of discussing more school libraries, sport lessons or increased financial awareness of things like pocket money, the youngsters plumped for sport.

The school hall was divided into the House of Commons and the Lords as pupils went through the process of debating the bill, making amendments and voting. Mr Strange said: “They were really, really excited.”

Mr Tomlinson said: “I have done this assembly to every primary school in North Swindon. We recreate Parliament and it can often get quite noisy, so not too dissimilar to the actual House of Commons. It was great to see so much enthusiasm from the pupils as we passed the bill.”