Youth Parliaments and young people’s participation in politics

Standard Note: SNPC-00823 Last updated: 24 January 2007 Author: Paul Lester, Miranda Olivier Wright, Parliament and Constitution Centre; Nicola Harland, Parliamentary Education Unit

Many organisations, including the UK Youth Parliament, use “parliament” as a convenient word to describe some form of discussion forum or council. This note gives details about some of the main organisations involved with organising youth parliaments and other initiatives to increase in the political process.

Contents

A. Parliamentary Education Unit Pupil Parliaments 2 B. UK Youth Parliament 2 C. Scottish Parliament 3 D. Scottish Youth Parliament 4 E. Citizenship Foundation National Youth Parliament Competition 4 F. Children’s Parliament 5 G. Scottish Youth Summit 5 H. Funky Dragon 5 I. Youth Forum 6 J. European Youth Parliament 6 K. Youth Parliaments elsewhere 7 L. Yvote?/Ynot? 7 M. The Electoral Commission 8 Appendix 1 – Parliamentary Education Unit: Pupil Parliaments 10 Appendix 2 – UK Youth Parliament – Contact Information 17 Appendix 3 – Youth Parliament websites 18

Standard Notes are compiled for the benefit of Members of Parliament and their personal staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise others. A. Parliamentary Education Unit Pupil Parliaments

The Parliamentary Education Unit, which provides an educational service for both UK Houses of Parliament, instituted in 1999 a series of Pupil Parliaments. These allow children of different age groups to participate in a debate in the on several days each year. Debates take place in one of the Grand Committee Rooms. Members of Parliament are present and advise the schools that participate. The Pupil Parliaments take the form of an organised debate for 64 students. Following a brief introduction on arrival, the pupils are given the opportunity to discuss the motion to be debated and debating techniques with a Member of Parliament prior to the debate commencing. The debate lasts for about one hour, closing with a division. The visit lasts for about 2½ hours. Advance preparation is essential. The schools involved help to choose the subjects that are debated.

A list of the subjects debated in the Pupil Parliaments is provided at Appendix 1. Further details of these events are available from:

Nicola Harland Deputy Education Officer Parliamentary Education Unit House of Commons SW1A 2TT

Telephone: 020 7219 2375 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.explore.parliament.uk

B. UK Youth Parliament

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) aims to give young people in the UK, between the age of 11 and 18 (inclusive) a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local and central government, MPs, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.

UKYP was launched at the House of Commons in July 1999. The first Annual Sitting took place on 23, 24 and 25 February 2001 in the Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, and London. More than 200 young people took part as elected Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs). The first Co-Chairs of the UKYP Board of Trustees were the former MP, (appointed a Patron of UKYP in July 2004), and James Moody (then aged 19). Mr. Rowe has been involved in this project for some time1, serving on the UKYP Steering Committee together with Llin Golding (former MP) and Lembit Opik MP (who also served as a Trustee). , then Lifelong Learning Minister at the and

1 He has had a ten minute rule Bill on the subject (HC Deb 9 June 1998 Vol 313 c 875): http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980609/debtext/80609- 06.htm#80609-06_head1, and he has also raised the subject during the Queen’s Speech debate at the beginning of the 1999-2000 session (HC Deb 23 Nov 1999 Vol 339 c 526-30). http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo991123/debtext/91123-21.htm

2 Employment, issued a press release welcoming the UK Youth Parliament.2 The press notice also explained the background to the UKYP:

There is provision for over 400 Members of the Youth Parliament to be elected and any one from age 11 to 18 can stand for election. Elections have been held in a large number of the constituencies. MYPs will discuss ideas and concerns relevant to young people, details of future sittings and produce their Manifesto, which will be handed to the Government. During the rest of the years MYPs and other young people will be able to exchange views and opinions via the UKYP Website and meet locally in smaller numbers.

There are currently over 300 elected MYPs, aged between 11 and 18. MYPs represent both young men and women, including young people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and with physical and learning disabilities.

Each Local Education Authority (LEA) represents a UKYP constituency, and 90% of the LEAs across are currently represented on the UKYP. Agreements are also established with , and Northern Ireland to ensure that the young people in those countries are represented by the organisation.

UKYP is an independent national charity which receives limited central staff and core funding costs from the Government. UKYP also relies on the support of grant making trusts, private sponsorship and the goodwill of many LEAs.

UKYP has a rolling programme, meeting on an annual basis and producing a Manifesto which is presented to Government and MPs. Issues that are discussed range from transport and education to health and the media. The UKYP supports the call for lowering the to 163 and an equal minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds.

The UKYP Board of Trustees comprises of a representative from each of the major political parties; Labour - Esq MP, Conservative - Esq MP and Liberal Democrat - Tim Farron Esq MP. A young person (aged 18-25) elected by the MYPs every two years serve on the Board from each of the UK regions, along with representatives of the voluntary youth sector and local government (although at the time of writing there was a vacancy for a representative of the north east). The present Co-Chairmen of the UKYP Board of Trustees are Melodi Hossaini (21 yrs old) and Vernon Coaker MP.

C. Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament ran a Young People’s Congress in March 2001. Young people from all over Scotland visited the Parliament on 1 and 2 March, as part of a major educational event, organised by the Scottish Parliament Education Service. Thirty local authorities sent nearly 100 pupils to Edinburgh. They debated a fictitious bill to improve young people’s health in Scotland. In the morning, they worked in Committees and in the afternoon came

2 “Wicks opens first sitting of UK Youth Parliament” DfEE Press notice 20001/0104, 23 Feb 2001 - http://www.dfee.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2001_0104 3 For which see PCC Standard Note 1747; http://hcl1.hclibrary.parliament.uk/notes/pcc/snpc-01747.pdf

3 together in the main Chamber to debate and vote on the bill, which had been specially drafted for the day. The proceedings were also broadcast live on the internet via www.scottishparliamentlive.com.

Further details are available in a Scottish Parliament press notice4 and further information can also be obtained from the Scottish Parliament Education Service.5

D. Scottish Youth Parliament

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) was launched in Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in 1999. It is a group of around 150 elected young people aged between 14 and 25 years, and aims to be the collective national for all young people in Scotland. They generally meet 4 times a year to discuss issues that affect young Scottish people. On 22 November 2005, they produced a document Louder than Words which sets out the ten campaigns they will be taking forward.6

All major decisions in the SYP are taken by people aged 25 or under and their directors are of the same age, although they do have an Advisory Committee including professionals from their various partners.

The current Office Bearers of the SYP, elected by their peers, are: Chair: Rajiv Joshi MSYP, Glasgow Govan Vice Chair: Hilary Lynn MSYP, Glasgow Maryhill Secretary: Connie Bennett MSYP, Falkirk East Treasurer: John MSYP, Edinburgh North & Leith

The SYP is the partner organisation of the UK Youth Parliament in Scotland, electing and supporting Members of the UK Youth Parliament (see Section B).

Its written constitution, which was altered in August 2005, is available at http://www.scottishyouthparliament.org.uk/portalbase/pages/download.aspx?locationId=848 2d707-0dc4-4ff6-956f-cdfd05fb6da4

The website is at http://www.scottishyouthparliament.org.uk

E. Citizenship Foundation National Youth Parliament Competition

The Citizenship Foundation has organised an annual competition for schoolchildren since 1991. Schools registering for the competition need to organise teams of at least 20 young people between 11 and 18 years of age. Each team of students needs to research and

4 “Young people to have their say on health in Scottish Parliament”, 15 Feb 2001, Parliamentary News Release 005/2001 - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-01/pa01-005.htm 5 Tel: 0131 348 5394 / 5395 / 5404 or email: [email protected] 6 Scottish Youth Parliament, Louder than Words, 22 November 2005, http://www.scottishyouthparliament.org.uk/portalbase/pages/download.aspx?locationId=7deb7e3b- 02ba-4ca4-bfde-883cec92121a

4 gather information about the House of Commons and make a 20-minute video of a mock parliamentary session. This must include a Question Time, a debate on the second reading of a bill of their choice, and either the Speaker's Procession or a division.

Further details are available on the Foundation’s website: http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk

F. Children’s Parliament

The Children’s Parliament is ‘about enabling the experience of active citizenship’ according to their website.7 They aim to establish 20 local groups throughout Scotland, each of 20 children, to meet monthly over a 3 year period. They currently have 3 groups up and running in their pilot scheme and are evaluating the success.

In December 2005, they had their first national gathering; this was attended by Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Kathleen Marshall and the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People Robert Brown. The report is available on their website.8

G. Scottish Youth Summit

The Scottish Executive mounted the Scottish Youth Summit 2000 on 19 June 2000, in which over 1,000 young people across Scotland took part. Nine separate conferences across Scotland were run on the same day, and a “virtual” electronic conference was also hosted. Many young people took part in the E-Conference, giving their views and comments on a wide variety of issues, such as drugs, alcohol, smoking, Europe, bullying and other issues of importance to them.

The report of the Scottish Youth Summit is available on the Scottish Executive website.9 The summit has not to date been repeated.

H. Funky Dragon

Funky Dragon – The Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales - is a peer-led organisation which aims to give people under 25 a voice on the issues that affect them, to represent as wide a range of views as possible and to work with decision-makers to achieve change.

Funky Dragon’s main task is to make sure that the views of children and young people are heard by the Welsh Assembly Government, and to support participation in decision-making at a national level.

Details of Funky Dragon’s structure, policies and events are available on their website.10

7 http://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/index.html 8 http://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/assets/residential.pdf 9 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/rsys.pdf 10 http://www.funkydragon.org/

5 I. Northern Ireland Youth Forum

The Northern Ireland Youth Forum (NIYF) was established in 1979 by the Department of Education with the aim to promote the views of young people throughout Northern Ireland to Government, Policy Makers and other relevant bodies. Any young people between 14 and 25 can get involved in the youth forum.

The NIYF website outlines its five most important roles on behalf of young people as:

• Working with YOU (e.g. we increase young peoples awareness about their rights so they can change things for themselves) • Speaking up, Fighting for and Making change (e.g. we stand up for our rights in organisations like District Councils to make sure we are included in their work) • Getting YOU involved (e.g. we go out and meet other young people from all over Northern Ireland to tell us what they think needs to change.) • Getting the message out (e.g. we provide opportunities for other young people to meet face to face with senior politicians (e.g. and Bertie Ahern), MLAs (e.g. Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster), and others who make decisions about us.) • Increasing resources and improving effectiveness (e.g. we work with funders to get the money we need to do our work well)11

J. European Youth Parliament

The European Youth Parliament (EYP) promotes the European dimension in education and aims to give students in the 16-22 age group the opportunity to participate in a practical learning experience. There is a UK branch, which, according to the website:

…exists to promote the work of the European Youth Parliament (International) within the . To this end, in 1991, EYP UK set up a nationwide competition to encourage the values at the heart of EYP through constructive debate. This competition consists of two rounds; in the first stage, school teams enter one of fourteen Regional Selection Fora; the team judged to have won at each forum then proceeds to the National Selection Conference in September. The two school teams which win here then go on to participate at the international level (which is non- competitive). Those who have taken part in these events have benefited enormously - EYP UK will do its utmost to ensure that many more young people will benefit in the future.12

Again according to the website, the European Youth Parliament:

…constitutes a forum in which the young people of Europe can express their own opinions, without any political connotations and without reverting to role play. Students are encouraged to take an interest in current affairs and the democratic process, practise independent thinking and take personal initiative.

11 http://www.niyf.org/ 12 http://www.eypuk.com/eypint.htm

6 The EYP organises 3 international 9-day sessions a year, which are held each time in a different European country and involve the EU-member states as well as most Non- EU European countries, bringing together 250-300 students and teachers of different nationalities. The students who participate are selected by the EYP Committee in their country. The working languages at the sessions are English and French.13

K. Youth Parliaments elsewhere

Many foreign countries run youth parliaments. A list of website address for selected overseas youth parliaments appears as Appendix 2.

L. Yvote?/Ynot?

The Government’s Children and Young People’s Unit14 produced a report entitled Yvote?/Ynot? in July 2002.15 MP, Minister for Children and Young People, answered two Parliamentary questions on the report in July 2002:

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she will take in response to the publication of the `Yvote?/Ynot?' report by the Children and Young People's Unit. [69615]

Mr. Denham: The Children and Young People's Unit will be working with the Electoral Commission and a wide range of young people's organisations to extend the debate about the report's findings. We plan to make the materials from the project available to teachers, youth workers and organisations working directly with young people. We shall be working with the All Party Group on Youth Affairs to explore how honourable Members can be helped to improve their communication with young people. The report also identified the importance of information about the political process and this will be a key feature of citizenship education which will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002. My objective is to seek to ensure that all young people who have the opportunity to vote for the first time at the next general election should have considered the issues involved.16

And:

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings he has had regarding young people's involvement in the political process; and what the outcomes of those meetings were. [72386]

Mr. Denham: I have been asked to reply. I have held a number of meetings with young people, members of the UK Youth Parliament, hon. Members, and the media, relating to the re-engagement of young people in and voting. Those discussions have supported the recommendations of the YVote?/YNot? project published on 3 July.17

13 Ibid 14 The Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU) has now been merged into the Department for Education and Skills’ Children, Young People and Families Directorate. 15 Young people and politics: a report on the yvote?/ynot? project. Children and Young Peoples Unit. 2002 16 HC Deb 16 July 2002 Vol 389 c118W 17 HC Deb 24 July 2002 Vol 390 cc1355-6W

7

Mr Denham also answered a question from Bill Wiggin MP on young people’s involvement in the political process:

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) legislation is in place and (b) programmes are being funded that encourage young people's involvement in the political process. [72387]

Mr. Denham: I have been asked to reply. The Government have taken several legislative steps in recent years to modernise and simplify electoral law and processes so that they are more relevant to modern lifestyles, including those lived by young people. These measures should make access to the process more flexible and make it easier both to register to vote and to cast a ballot. The Government, with the help of others such as the Electoral Commission, will continue to consider carefully any suggestions for changes that will lead to increased involvement of the young in the electoral process. The National Curriculum Order for Citizenship laid before Parliament on 23 June 2000 sets out the statutory requirements for citizenship education. The subject will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from this August. It will consist of three main strands: political literacy, social and moral responsibility and community involvement. These will help young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to engage in active citizenship and understand their role in the political process. The Children and Young People's Unit will continue to work with a range of organisations to support the action recommended in the YVote?/YNot? project. Electoral Commission, with whom the Children and Young People's Unit has been working closely, has a statutory responsibility for raising public awareness of the electoral process and democratic systems, and has run focused advertising campaigns aimed at encouraging higher levels of voter participation within specific communities, including young people. The commission intends to continue to run bi-annual advertising campaigns, linked to key dates in the electoral calendar, including local and national elections and the annual registration canvass. The commission will also be launching later this year a `New Initiatives Fund' which will provide grant funding to individuals and organisations outside government to test innovative ideas aimed at increasing participation in elections by young people and others.18

Further details and results of the YVote?/YNot? Projects are available on the CYPU website.19

M. The Electoral Commission

The Commission has attempted (in furtherance of its third corporate aim, ‘To encourage greater participation in, and increased understanding of, the democratic process’20) to stimulate the participation of younger voters in elections. In Spring 2002 the Electoral Commission's ‘Votes are Power’ campaign to get Britain's youth voting in the English local elections on 2 May culminated in a ‘Youth Voter Awareness Week’.

18 HC Deb 24 July 2002 Vol 390 c1168W 19 http://www.cypu.gov.uk/corporate/participation/yvoteynotvote.cfm 20 http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/our-role.cfm

8 The Commission subsequently launched a ‘Votes are Power’ themed design competition in November 2002:21 Which asked entrants to produce a design on the theme of "Votes Are Power" with the winning design featuring in The Commission's UK wide advertising campaign. A second ‘Votes are Power’ competition took place in 2004, which asked 14-24 year olds to come up with a creative response to the phrase ‘Turn Opinion into Action’ using any medium from film, theatre or song to a website or poster.

The Electoral Commission has also collaborated with the Hansard Society and the Department for Education and Skills in organising mock local, European and London Mayoral elections on 10 June 2004. Tables showing the number of seats gained in the Y Vote European Mock Elections compared to the actual European elections held on the 10 June 2004 are shown on the Electoral Commission website.22

Results for mock elections held in 200523 and 200624 are also available on the Electoral Commission website.

An initiative carried out by the Hansard Society and backed by the Electoral Commission entitled Citizen Calling, was launched on 10 August 2006 to enable young people to submit evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee using their mobile phones. Participants are asked to comment on the criminal justice system. After the deadline for submission, the Committee will meet with a group of young people to discuss the points they raised.25

21 http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/131 22 http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/329 23 http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/434 24 http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/545 25 Electoral Commission, Young people use mobiles to feed back to Select Committee on criminal justice system, 10 August 2006, http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/mediacentre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/581

9 Appendix 1 – Parliamentary Education Unit: Pupil Parliaments

20 NOVEMBER 1998 (Years 8 - 10) Speaker Chris Pond (Head of Reference and Reader Services, House of Commons Library). Topic for Debate Electronic tagging of offenders.

12 FEBRUARY 1999 (Sixth Form) Speaker The Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE Topic for Debate The should not be reformed in any way.

16 APRIL 1999 (Years 10 & 11) Speaker Mrs Ann Winterton MP Topic for Debate Reducing voting age at elections to 16.

21 MAY 1999 (Years 8 & 9) Speaker Nick St. Aubyn MP Topic for Debate Every school should provide at least one hour of games each day for all pupils.

9 JULY 1999 (Year 7) Speaker Lembit Öpik MP Topic for Debate All schools should be co-educational.

3 DECEMBER 1999 (Sixth Form) Speaker Tony McNulty MP Topic for Debate All schools should be comprehensive and selective schooling should be abolished.

11 FEBRUARY 2000 (Years 10 & 11) Speaker Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP Topic for Debate Everyone who wishes should be allowed to participate in all country pursuits freely, within existing guidelines.

31 MARCH 2000 (Years 8 & 9) Speaker Stephen Pound MP Topic for Debate All public transport should be free to everyone not in full-time employment.

19 MAY 2000 (Year 7) Speaker Rt. Hon. Alan Beith MP Topic for Debate Advertising should be severely restricted in order to relieve the pressure placed on young people.

3 NOVEMBER 2000 (Sixth Form) Speaker Rt. Hon. Eric Forth MP Topic for Debate To ensure a truly democratic Parliament the voters should elect the members of both Chambers.

10

8 DECEMBER 2000 (Sixth Form) Speaker John Hayes MP Topic for Debate To ensure a truly democratic Parliament the voters should elect the members of both Chambers.

9 FEBRUARY 2001 (Years 10 & 11) Speaker Tony Colman MP Topic for Debate The use of cannabis should be de-criminalised.

30 MARCH 2001 (Years 8 & 9) Speaker Linda Perham MP Topic for Debate Animal experiments are essential for the advancement of medicine and science and should be supported.

22 JUNE 2001 (Year 7) Speaker MP Topic for Debate All activities which bring unnecessary death or pain to animals should be made illegal.

2 NOVEMBER 2001 (Sixth Form) Speaker MP Topic for Debate The economic benefits resulting from UK entry into Economic and Monetary Union would outweigh any loss of national sovereignty.

30 NOVEMBER 2001 (Sixth Form) Speaker Laura Moffatt MP Topic for Debate The economic benefits resulting from UK entry into Economic and Monetary Union would outweigh any loss of national sovereignty.

1 FEBRUARY 2002 (Sixth Form - House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor David Beamish (Clerk, House of Lords) Topic for Debate The most effective means of combating the abuse of drugs is to legislate for their decriminalisation.

8 MARCH 2002 (Years 10 & 11) Speaker Tony McNulty MP Topic for Debate History teaches us asylum seekers and refugees make positive contributions to Britain through their talents and skills.

19 APRIL 2002 (Years 8 & 9) Speaker MP Topic for Debate In order to protect victims of crime, punishments should match the nature of the crime more closely.

11 24 MAY 2002 (Year 7) Speaker Dari Taylor MP Topic for Debate All activities which bring unnecessary death or pain to animals should be made illegal.

22 NOVEMBER 2002 (Sixth Form) Speaker Elizabeth Flood/David Natzler (Clerks, House of Commons) Topic for Debate First-degree students should be eligible for a maintenance grant of £3000 per annum irrespective of parental income and that this should be funded by a graduate tax.

29 NOVEMBER 2002 (Sixth Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor David Beamish Topic for Debate Military action can be justified on grounds of self-defence or the defence of allied countries and that appeasement of dictators is an unrealistic policy.

13 DECEMBER 2002 (Sixth Form) Speaker Rt. Hon. Eric Forth MP Topic for Debate First-degree students should be eligible for a maintenance grant of £3000 per annum irrespective of parental income and that this should be funded by a graduate tax.

31 JANUARY 2003 (Sixth Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lady Chancellor Baroness Thomas of Walliswood Topic for Debate Military action can be justified on grounds of self-defence or the defence of allied countries and that appeasement of dictators is an unrealistic policy.

21 MARCH 2003 (Year 10) Speaker Adrian Flook MP Topic for Debate In order to reduce pressure on landfill sites and work towards a cleaner environment, local authorities should introduce schemes to collect sorted rubbish for recycling from every household and should charge for collecting unsorted rubbish.

4 APRIL 2003 (Year 9) Speaker Vernon Coaker MP Topic for Debate In order to reduce pressure on landfill sites and work towards a cleaner environment, local authorities should introduce schemes to collect sorted rubbish for recycling from every household and should charge for collecting unsorted rubbish.

16 MAY 2003 (Year 8) Speaker MP Topic for Debate In order to reduce the number of cars on the road and help safeguard the future of the environment, all cities should operate a congestion charge and that the proceeds should be used to provide free public transport.

12 4 JULY 2003 (Year 7) Speaker Dr Phyllis Starkey MP Topic for Debate School uniform gives pupils a feeling of identity and raises standards of discipline and tidiness.

28 NOVEMBER 2003 (Sixth Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Lord Taylor of Warwick Topic for Debate The economic benefits resulting from UK entry into Economic and Monetary Union would outweigh any loss of national sovereignty.

12 DECEMBER 2003 (Sixth Form) Speaker Glenda Jackson MP Topic for Debate In order to encourage all young people into higher education, provision should be free.

30 JANUARY 2004 (Sixth Form) Speaker Stephen Pound MP Topic for Debate In order to encourage all young people into higher education, provision should be free.

6 FEBRUARY 2004 (Sixth Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Lord Carter and David Beamish Topic for Debate In order to encourage all young people into higher education, provision should be free.

27 FEBRUARY 2004 (Sixth Form) Speaker Mike Gapes MP Topic for Debate In order to encourage all young people into higher education, provision should be free.

12 MARCH 2004 (Years 10 & 11 – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Simon Burton and Andrew Makower (Clerks, House of Lords) Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

30 APRIL 2004 (Year 9) Speaker MP Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the age at which it should be possible to do such things as drive, vote and become an MP should also be 16.

14 MAY 2004 (Year 8) Speaker Karen Buck MP Topic for Debate All activities which bring unnecessary death or pain to animals should be made illegal.

13 18 JUNE 2004 (Year 7) Speaker Claire Ward MP Topic for Debate As society is increasingly dependent on the use of computers for work, education and leisure, every household should be entitled to one.

26 NOVEMBER 2004 (6th Form) Speaker Martin Linton MP Topic for Debate There is no place in modern Britain for the pursuit of sports that cause pain to animals.

10 DECEMBER 2004 (6th Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Lord Razzall Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards would enhance a feeling of national identity and help create a safer environment for all citizens.

4 FEBRUARY 2005 (6th Form) Speaker Mark Hoban MP Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards would enhance a feeling of national identity and help create a safer environment for all citizens.

25 FEBRUARY 2005 (6th From – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor The Lord Chancellor the Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton and Andrew Makower Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards would enhance a feeling of national identity and help create a safer environment for all citizens.

4 MARCH 2005 (6th form) Speaker John Randall MP Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards would enhance a feeling of national identity and help create a safer environment for all citizens.

18 MARCH 2005 (Year 11 – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Baroness Thomas of Walliswood Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

15 APRIL 2005 (Year 10) Speaker Chris Pond (Head of Reference and Reader Services) Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

14 22 APRIL 2005 (Year 9) Speaker David Natzler (Clerks Dept.) Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

17 JUNE 2005 (Year 8) Speaker David Kidney MP Topic for Debate All activities which bring unnecessary death or pain to animals should be made illegal.

1 JULY 2005 (Year 7) Speaker Stephen Pound MP Topic for Debate Smoking in public places should be banned.

14 OCTOBER 2005 (6th Form) Speaker Simon Hughes MP Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards and the inevitable sacrifice of some civil liberties are necessary in order to defeat terrorism and create a safer environment for all citizens.

21 OCTOBER 2005 (6th Form) Speaker Stephen McGinness (Head of the HCIO) Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards and the inevitable sacrifice of some civil liberties are necessary in order to defeat terrorism and create a safer environment for all citizens.

11 NOVEMBER 2005 (6th Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor The Earl of Listowell Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards and the inevitable sacrifice of some civil liberties are necessary in order to defeat terrorism and create a safer environment for all citizens.

2 DECEMBER 2005 (6th Form) Speaker Chris Bryant MP (1 hour only); Deputies – Stephanie and Russell (student volunteers) Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards and the inevitable sacrifice of some civil liberties are necessary in order to defeat terrorism and create a safer environment for all citizens.

20 JANUARY 2006 (6th Form – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor Lord Clement-Jones Topic for Debate The introduction of identity cards and the inevitable sacrifice of some civil liberties are necessary in order to defeat terrorism and create a safer environment for all citizens.

15 24 FEBRUARY 2006 (Year 11 – House of Lords Procedure) Lord Chancellor The Rt Hon Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

10 MARCH 2006 (Year 10) Speaker Frank Cook MP Topic for Debate Since pupils are eligible to leave school and commence full time employment at 16, the voting age at elections should be reduced to 16.

17 MARCH 2006 (Year 9) Speaker James Duddridge MP Topic for Debate Animal experiments are essential for the advancement of medicine and science and should be supported.

16 JUNE 2006 (Year 8) Speaker Jackie Lait MP Topic for Debate Schools should sell only healthy food and students should be banned from bringing in their own unhealthy snacks in order to reduce the growing problem of obesity in the UK.

14 JULY 2006 (Year 7) Speaker Martin Linton MP Topic for debate Schools should sell only healthy food and students should be banned from bringing in their own unhealthy snacks in order to reduce the growing problem of obesity in the UK.

16 Appendix 2 – UK Youth Parliament – Contact Information26

MPs are encouraged to make contact with the Member(s) of UK Youth Parliament in their constituency. MYPs are allocated on the size of the Local Education Authority and not MP constituency areas.

MPs and their staff may contact UKYP through their Chief Executive Officer:

Andy Hamflett

UK Youth Parliament Central Office 7, Anstice Square Madeley Telford Shropshire TF7 5BD

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01952 681994 Fax: 01952 681979 Website: www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

Please note that you can subscribe to a free e-newsletter via the UKYP website.

26 Information is provided from UK Youth Parliament

17 Appendix 3 – Youth Parliament websites

United Kingdom Youth Parliament http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

Scottish Youth Parliament http://www.scottishyouthparliament.org.uk/

Funky Dragon – The Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales http://www.funkydragon.org/

Northern Ireland Youth Forum http://www.niyf.org/

European Youth Parliament http://www.eyp.org/

European Youth Parliament UK http://www.eypuk.com/

Alberta Youth Parliament (discontinued) http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/pib/yth-par/index.htm

British Columbia Youth Parliament http://www.bcyp.org/main.html

Australian YMCA Youth Parliament http://www.nyp.ymca.org.au/

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly YMCA Youth Parliament http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Eymcadrw/yparl.html

New Zealand Youth Parliament http://www.myd.govt.nz/youthparliament/

International Youth Parliament (based in Australia) http//www.iyp.oxfam.org

Africa Youth Parliament http://www.ayparliament.org/

Glocal Youth Parliament http://www.glocalyouth.org/

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