§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to an article in The Times on 16 July, when the radio station "Youth FM" was set up by the Department for Education and Employment; at what cost; and who has control over editorial content and policy. [HL2943]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)Youth FM is an initiative of Youth Clubs UK, a national voluntary youth organisation. It is a radio station aimed at young people and run by young people. The Department for Education and Employment gave Youth Clubs UK a grant of £20,000 in 1997–98 to help provide training for the young broadcasters involved. This sum represents less than a third of the total cost of the project. Youth FM operates within the guidelines set down by the Radio Authority. Editorial control is exercised by the young broadcasters, with the support and guidance of youth workers and broadcast professionals.