§ Major Beamishasked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements were made, and when, with the Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organizations for a camp site in the Festival area on the South Bank to be occupied by various youth organisations; why, when and how these arrangements were cancelled; and whether he is aware that the exclusion of the activities of the youth of the country from the South Bank Exhibition has wasted much hard work voluntarily put into the organisation of the camp site and caused great disappointment to the youth organisations concerned.
§ Mr. StokesDiscussion of this particular proposal for associating the youth organisations with the Festival began towards the end of 1949 but it was not until March, 1951, that the Festival organisation were forced to the conclusion that the camp could not satisfactorily 275W be accommodated within the South Bank Exhibition. The decision was conveyed to the Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations by letter from the Director-General, who expressed his deep regret that it was necessary to abandon the plan.
I am aware of the disappointment caused to the youth organisations concerned by the cancellation of this part of their widespread Festival programme and know that it is shared by the Festival organisation which only reached its decision after all the alternatives had been most carefully examined.