§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with national youth organisations in the United Kingdom over the European Voluntary Service for Young People as set out in Corn (97) 347; what his Department's policy is in respect of Article 1(2) as modified by the European124W Parliament; to what extent personal security will be taken into account as concerns article 2(1a); what is entailed in the reference to analysis and dissemination of data in article 5.3(2); and if he will make a statement. [18094]
§ Dr. HowellsI have been asked to reply.
I attended the European Council of Youth Ministers in Luxembourg on 28 October, at which a common position was reached on the Commission's draft proposal for a European Voluntary Service for Young People, subject to a UK Parliamentary Scrutiny Reserve. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Trickett) on 19 November, Official Report, column 186.
The Commission's proposal states specifically that the activities undertaken by young people under this programme will no way replace potential or existing paid jobs; the other points of detail raised will be addressed with other Member States when the precise arrangements for the Programme are being discussed over the next few months.
The Government are committed to seeing this programme under way as early as possible. The Government agree with Article 1(2) of the draft proposal.
Officers of the Department have had general discussions with the British Youth Council about this programme, and we will draw on our experience of the pilot phase in determining the exact arrangements for the new EVS Programme.