§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the new Northern Ireland youth forum, including its estimated cost to public funds.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe Northern Ireland youth forum is a body of young people elected by local youth councils throughout Northern Ireland. There are at present 25 such councils, each of which is made up of representatives elected by the members of youth organisations in the areas which they cover.
The forum is able to give the responsible Minister a well-informed view of the operation of the youth service and other matters of direct concern to young people. It provides a structure through 449W which members of youth organisations throughout the Province can share their exeriences of participating in those organisations to their mutual benefit; and it is a means by which a common approach to their mutual problems can be established.
The limits of age of members of the forum at their appointment are 18 and 23. 25 members had been elected and were present at the inaugural session opened by my noble Friend Lord Elton on 1 November 1980. The cost to public funds during the current financial year is estimated at about £2,000.