3. Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. Will the Commission provide an update on the Welsh Youth Parliament following the first regional meetings? OAQ53315

Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament met in their regions for the first time on 19 and 26 January. It provided an opportunity for them to get to know each other, consider priorities and meet with some Assembly Members and staff members for the first time. They also took part in training and discussed the residential weekend, due to take place here on the weekend of 22 to 24 February.

Thank you, Llywydd. I'm sure that all Members here will be really pleased to hear of what is incredibly positive progress. I was fortunate to meet the Youth Parliament Members from Mid and West Wales in Carmarthen and was very impressed by some very committed and engaging young people. I was also very struck by the support arrangements that were there in place to support those young people who will find it more difficult to participate. Among the young people I met were representatives of young carers and of the Gypsy/Traveller community, and it felt to me as if those arrangements were working very well. Will the Commission keep those arrangements under review to ensure that those young people who may not find it as easy to participate continue to get the support through the process? 

May I thank the Member for that question and, along with a number of other Members from this Siambr, who have taken time to meet the Youth Parliament Members in the various regional meetings. I’ve seen photos of many of you in various meetings over these past two weekends. May I also thank you for praising what we’re trying to do to ensure that each one of the 60 Members, who are equal in their role as Members of the Youth Parliament, who come from diverse backgrounds with different challenges—it’s important that we as the Assembly Commission and as the Assembly give each one of them the support they need to be able to undertake their new roles? There is a great deal of excitement among them to participate in the Youth Parliament and we must ensure that they have the appropriate support to do so, and to keep that under review as the Youth Parliament evolves during its first two years and as these young people participate in their democracy on behalf of their fellow young people in Wales.