HC Deb 05 February 2004 vol 417 cc1049-50W
Charles Hendry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of marketing his Department's Learning to Listen to Young People initiative will be. [153085]

Yvette Cooper

Marketing of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Learning to Listen competition cost £2,333.75. This was for the production and printing of the leaflet. This has been the only marketing activity to date and there are no existing plans for other further marketing activities that would have a cost implication.

Charles Hendry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of his Department's Learning to Listen to Young People initiative will be; and if he will make a statement. [153086]

Yvette Cooper

The costs are as follows:

£
Salaries from March 2003–April 2004 34,969.02
Competition leaflet production 2,333.75
Competition winners event and exhibition 16,000
Total 43,302.77
1 Predicted expenditure.

Charles Hendry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many officials in his Department have been assigned to work on the Learning to Listen to Young People initiative. [153087]

Yvette Cooper

There is one lead official (currently a secondee from the Voluntary sector) assigned to work on the Learning to Listen action plan full-time. Other officials across the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister contribute through a departmental steering group that meets quarterly.

Charles Hendry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how his Department will take account of the views expressed by young people through the Learning to Listen to Young People initiative. [153088]

Yvette Cooper

The Learning to Listen initiative aims to involve children and young people in shaping the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy design and delivery. As such this is an on-going activity and all policy areas are examining how they can engage with children and young people more effectively as their stakeholders.

In November 2003 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched a competition for young people to suggest the most appropriate way for them to become actively involved in the work of the Department. The winner and short listed youth groups will be invited to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to explore their ideas further with relevant policy leads. There will also be an in-house exhibition of the competition entries.

All of the views expressed by the young people in the competition will be forwarded onto the relevant Office of the Deputy Prime Minister policy areas. The young people will be provided with feedback on any changes that occur as a result of their suggestions.