§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his joint working with the Home Office's Children and Young People's Unit and the development and delivery of shared initiatives with particular reference to the Participation Fund; and how such funds have affected Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. [144768]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU)—previously a Unit located within the DIES but reporting to a Home Office Minister—is now part of the new DfES Children, Young People and Families Directorate, reporting to me. The valuable work pioneered by the CYPU in developing cross-Government initiatives, in supplying local partnerships and in involving children and young people in policy development will be incorporated in the work of my new Directorate.
The Participation Fund is a small fund designed to support the development of mechanisms for the consultation and involvement of children and young people in England. Part of this budget is devoted to a Consultation Fund, which I launched in July this year. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for children and young people, in particular those in hard-to-reach groups, to be consulted on policies and services that affect them. No projects have yet been funded in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, but applications would be welcome (application details at www.cypu.gov.uk/participation/consultationfund.cfm).