HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 cc253-4W
Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what work is being done by the Children and Young People's Unit to include young people in Whitehall policy formulation. [19055]

Mr. Denham

I have been asked to reply.

On 2 November I published "Learning to Listen: Core Principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People" which sets out principles Government Departments have agreed to follow in their work to involve children and young people in the planning, provision and evaluation of Government policies and services relevant to them. The Children and Young People's Unit developed the principles in close consultation with Government Departments and with expertise from the voluntary sector. The Children and Young People's Unit is now supporting Departments as they plan how to take forward work to implement the principles and develop individual departmental action plans, for implementation from April 2002. The Unit will publish an annual report of progress against action plans.

The document "Learning to Listen—Core Principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People" is available on the web at www.cypu.gov.uk and in the Library.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is for the Children and Young Persons' Unit for(a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [19562]

Mr. Denham

I have been asked to reply.

The Children and Young People's Unit is responsible for the Children's Fund for which the spending plans are £100 million in 2001–02 and £150 million in 2002–03. The budget for the Children and Young People's Unit, including the administration and support of the Children's Fund is £2.7 million in 2001–02. Its budget for 2002–03 has not yet been finalised.