§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he has put in place to develop the involvement of young people in the working of parliamentary democracy. [84740]
§ Mr. MudieMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment published proposals on 13 May for consultation as part of the review of the National Curriculum on a framework for citizenship education in schools. This includes knowledge about the working of parliamentary democracy.
We have this year, in conjunction with the DETR, run the Children's Parliament on the Environment involving 10 and 11-year-old pupils from schools across the country. This has provided all pupils involved with an opportunity to develop an understanding of, and take an active role in, the democratic process.
The Department gives grant to the British Youth Council, a national voluntary youth organisation, for work to promote the informal personal and social education of young people. The British Youth Council holds regular Youth and Parliament days to raise young peoples' awareness of parliamentary and democratic procedures.