HL Deb 01 July 1998 vol 591 cc812-4

(" .—(1) The Assembly may establish a committee to provide advice to the Assembly about matters affecting young people in Wales.

(2) A committee established under this section shall be known by such title as the standing orders may provide (but is referred to in this Act as the youth advisory committee).

(3) The members of the youth advisory committee shall be—

  1. (a) all members of the Assembly under the age of 26 at the time of their election to the Assembly, and
  2. (b) members selected by the Assembly from outside the membership of the Assembly.

(4) The standing orders of the Assembly shall provide for the selection of the members referred to in subsection (3)(b).

(5) The youth advisory committee shall elect one of its members to chair it.").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, we had a useful debate on 3rd June (col. 425) on the notion of a youth advisory committee. I raise it again now. Unexpectedly—perhaps I should have realised this—the proposal has generated much more support outside this House than I imagined likely. Indeed, they talk of nothing else in Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff and other places. Therefore it seems to me that we have to return to this issue and flag it up with perhaps slightly more support from the Government than was shown—although I am always very grateful for all assurances I receive from Government Ministers during these debates—and perhaps a little more assurance on the importance of this issue in terms of citizenship. Maybe I did not spell out sufficiently clearly what we are dealing with. We are dealing with a nation in which the remaking of a culture, particularly by the younger citizens, is an essential part of how we take the nation of Wales on, and the fact that a new institution does not come into being merely by legislation or Acts of Parliament. It comes into existence by being remade by the people who participate in it and relate to it. I hope that not only will the notion of a youth advisory committee be something that somebody will take on but that the assembly itself will be seen as something that moves and excites the people who will make the Wales of the next century.

That is the reason why I bring forward this matter again: to get a little more support for it from all sides of the House and to underline the fact that I think it is particularly important that we should, in the development of citizenship, pay attention to the recreation of a form of inclusive citizenship that gets us beyond the divisive stereotypes which are still in evidence, even in your Lordships' House, because certain noble Lords have referred to themselves as North Walians. I am not a Walian; I am not an alien; I am a citizen of Wales—and so, one hopes, are many in your Lordships' House here this evening, or this early morning. Indeed the young people who will participate in the youth advisory committee will not be Walians; they will be citizens of Wales. I beg to move.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, as the noble Lord said, we discussed this quite fully on the last occasion. The assembly does not need this power because it has it under Clause 54(1)(b), and subsection (2)(b) in particular removes the requirement for any such committee to reflect party balance if the committee exists solely to provide advice. So if there were any members under 26 in the assembly they could all be on the committee, irrespective of any party allegiance.

The question of co-option we believe is wrong in principle. One should not co-opt outside members on to assembly committees, since they would not be elected. They are perfectly able to give evidence and to make submissions to the committee, if that is appropriate. I do hope that I was plain in indicating to the noble Lord on the last occasion that of course we want young people to be involved in the assembly and interested in it, because in many ways it is their future that the assembly is going to provide for. I repeat that I support the noble Lord in principle, but we do not need duplication of available powers, because it is plainly there in Clause 54(1)(b), given the absolute freedom of subsection (2)(b). I hope that I have said enough to satisfy the noble Lord. We do agree with the thrust of what he says, but these amendments are really not necessary.

Lord Elis-Thomas

My Lords, clearly, since I have failed to excite the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, to de-alienate himself, I would merely like to thank the Minister for his further assurance and his emphasis on the issue. On that basis, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Lord Thomas of Gresford

My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, may I say that he illustrates one of the principles of people from north-east Wales: the further west you go the more trouble you get!

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Lord Stanley of Alderley moved Amendment No. 92:

After Clause 64, insert the following new clause—