Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive hassupported the Scottish Youth Parliament to develop a legal structure thatensures that it is run by its members. We have always been clear that while wehave a legitimate public interest in ensuring that grant funding is spentappropriately in accordance with grant conditions and an agreed work plan, the Scottish Executive has no interest in seeking to influence the views of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Further to my answer toquestion S2W-31839 on 28 February 2007, no significant costs were incurred by either advertisingthe helpline on the Scottish Executive website or by issuing a news release.£111.28 was paid to INCAS to meet the costs of a mailing to its membership.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

These are issues forconsideration in the further development of the national strategy and actionplan so I am not in a position to confirm at this time, but I can say thatprogress measures, timescales, monitoring and reporting arrangements are key inthe successful delivery of the strategy and will therefore feature.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32115 on 12 March 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32112 on 12 March 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish YouthParliament is funded through the Children, Young People and Families Unified VoluntarySector Fund, which forms part of the Children and Families budget line.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32112 on 12 March 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Young people are regularly involvedin policy development in a variety of ways. This includes consultation papersspecifically targeted at young people, as for example in the recent youth workstrategy consultation. Alternatively, it may involve focus groups with youngpeople either organised directly by the Scottish Executive or through otherorganisations. It may also involve young people’s direct involvement in workinggroups. In addition, the Scottish Executive provides funding to Young Scot toensure that young people are aware of opportunities to have their views heard andare encouraged to take part. We also fund the Scottish Youth Parliament toconsult with young people and to convey those views directly to ministers andofficials on issues of concern to them.

The information on fundingup to 2006 is available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/FOI/Disclosures/2006/06/youthparli.

A further £251,125 was madeavailable in 2006-07 for core activities and £25,000 in capital funding.

This will form part of thework plan for the Scottish Youth Parliament for 2007-08, which has still to beagreed.