§ 6. Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in order to increase the representation of young people in his present talks with youth organisations, he will invite young staff and volunteers from Young Volunteers of Merseyside.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Hugh Jenkins)As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 14th May —[Vol. 892, c. 115.]—if the discussions now taking place with youth service 1251 interests suggest the need for further consultations, to include other groups of young people, I shall seek to arrange them. These discussions are nearing conclusion, but it is not too late for the young volunteers of Merseyside to submit written evidence.
§ Mr. SteenIs the Minister aware that the nation's youth is anxiously waiting for him as the nation's youth leader-in-chief to make up his mind whether he is to have a youth policy or not, and is he aware that some steps must be taken by the Government to reduce the effects, which are found throughout our society, of negative discrimination against young people?
§ Mr. JenkinsI am happy to say that I have so long left youth behind as not to nurture the illusions which still possess the hon. Gentleman. It seems that he still thinks himself to be in the position of a youth leader. Perhaps in some senses he is. I assure him in that sense—not in the sense of being myself a youth, except possibly in spirit—that when the Government came to power we found that no preparation had been made for dealing with the problems which beset the youth service. Discussions are taking place with the purpose of enabling the Government to make up their minds in a manner acceptable to youth itself.