NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY AND YOUTH SERVICES

Early day motion 1199, tabled 24 April 2002 by Baroness King of Bow (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's support for the principles of the National Youth Agency and Local Government Association's Hear by Rights Standards, which offers guidelines for the involvement of young people in the design and delivery of youth services in local government; appreciates the Government's increased recognition that policy should be accessible to, and reflect, the needs of young people; encourages the development of standards in the provision of services for young people both locally and nationally; calls upon the Government to take a lead in implementing such standards which reflect the needs of young people themselves; urges the Government to make youth services a statutory service which is adequately funded; and cautions that failure to do so will aggravate the unacceptably high levels of anti-social behaviour by disaffected young people, many of whom are being influenced by drug culture or gang culture, in the absence of high-quality youth provision.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 4, UUP 1.