5. Statement by the Llywydd: Update on the establishment of a Youth Parliament for Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:09 pm on 23 May 2018.

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Photo of Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle Labour 4:09, 23 May 2018

I, too, would like to give a really warm welcome to this statement today. It is really exciting to see the progress that's been made and the scale of the proposals that will enable our young people to have a genuine voice in this new youth parliament. I'd like to thank the Presiding Officer and her team for all their work on it, because I know the scale of the logistics of this has been very challenging, but also to thank the young people up and down Wales who have contributed to bringing this to fruition today. I am really pleased that part of these plans involves proposals to have the young people from the partner organisations, because, as I've said previously, while it's great that we've got young, confident, articulate people in Wales, we have to make sure that this parliament is a voice for all our young people, including our most disadvantaged, and I'd be very honoured to play a part in that. 

I've just got a few questions. The first is: for young people who are out there now thinking, 'Well, is this something that I should be putting my name in for?', what avenues are there for them to get further information and to ask those questions that they may need in order to take an informed decision on it? I'm also assuming that, just as we have excellent opportunities for training and professional development, there'll be things put in place for the young people who are successful to support them in doing this very new and important job. I would associate myself with Llyr's comments about the need to look further and beyond this to embed the role of young people as far as we can in our practices here, and I'd be grateful for your assurance that that's something that you'll keep under review. 

And just finally to say: would you agree with me that it is incumbent on all of us now in this institution to do everything that we can to promote this initiative and to ensure that as many young people both sign up to vote and consider standing for this new institution that will genuinely finally give young people a voice in Wales?