Young People: Government Policy

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Anelay of St Johns]

To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award report Youth Voices 2024, published on 23 July, what assessment they have made of how young people are represented in Government policy development and decision-making.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

The noble Baroness mentions a report that highlights how young people feel disengaged from politics and policy-making. We know that if we fail to involve young people in the development of policies that affect them, we may widen the disengagement gap between young people and politics. This Government are committed to empowering young people to make a difference in their communities and are working work with them to develop a new national strategy for young people.

[Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister refers to a new strategy. In the real world, there is a key ask in Youth Voices 2024, which reports on a wide consultation. The key ask is to say, “Can there be in that strategy a commitment to involve meaningful representation of young people and involvement at all levels of policy-making?” Does she agree that that will be in the strategy? How will it be delivered?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Secretary of State is incredibly passionate about the new national youth strategy and the principle of coproduction with young people and the sector. She is clear that it will support the next generation to succeed. Unfortunately, I have to say that further details will be announced shortly, but I and the Secretary of State are clear that integrating the youth voice in policy-making can strengthen the quality of policies that affected people, build bridges between young people and government and make sure that the policies that affect them are the ones that they want and that recognise and reflect their needs and aspirations for the future.