2. What plans does the Commission have to develop a youth parliament for Wales? OAQ(5)0002(AC)

The Commission has already been successful in engagement with young people, as young people are having a great influence on the work of the Assembly and its committees. Earlier this year, we agreed, as part of our new strategy for the fifth Assembly, that we want to take this success even further. I certainly do want to see the establishment of a youth parliament early in this Assembly term and I have been working closely with the children’s commissioner and the Campaign for the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales on the best way forward. We will be deciding on our plans at the Commission meeting in early November.

Obviously, I tabled this question before the debate was tabled today and I tabled it because I think it is incredibly important that we do have a youth parliament for Wales. I very much welcome your answer. I hope to speak in the debate later on, but if I could just ask you to state your personal commitment as Presiding Officer to driving this work forward on behalf of the Commission.

It is a timely question and I thank you for getting in there first before the debate this afternoon. I can give my personal commitment and, I hope, following the Commission meeting on 3 November, also the full Commission’s endorsement for taking the next steps in finally establishing a youth parliament here in Wales. We are awaiting a piece of work that is being undertaken by the campaign for the children and young people’s assembly and that piece of research work will be instrumental in advising us on the right way to do this. But, certainly, you have my assurance and my support for this to happen and to happen early on in the term of this Assembly.