Brief for the Youth Select Committee Pilot on Transport
1. Pilot Overview / Terms of Reference
The Youth Select Committee pilot will be developed to mirror the UK Parliament Select Committee structure allowing young people to scrutinise and hold enquires in to topics of interest to young people. The Youth Select Committee will comprising of a maximum of 11 young people (aged 18 years and under) based on the following model:
- 1 Member of Scottish Youth Parliament
- 1 Funky Dragon
- 1Northern Ireland Youth Forum
- 2Members of UK Youth Parliament
- 2 members of Youth Councils
- 1 representative from the Young Mayor’s Network
- 2 additional seats reserved for key groups of young people
- Chaired by a BYC Board Member
We will recruit the young people on to the select committee, and arrange their induction, training and support the research and the calling of witnesses, throughout the period of the first inquiry, and produce a final report.
The first inquiry will be on Transport issues, as identified as a priority by Members of the British Youth Council at the Annual Council meeting in September 2011 and voted as the priority campaign by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons in November 2011.
Depending on the success of the pilot we can review the frequency of the model
2. Youth Select Committee Pilot - Timeline for 2012
- Early February:Formal announcement/launch of the pilot/Invitation to young people to declare interest in becoming a member of the select committee, information shared across the country about what would be involved and how to apply
- Sat 17th March : Interviews and committee members appointed
- Tue 10th & Wed 11th April : Induction and Training event in London (including visits to committee rooms)
- Mon 16th April : Press release to announce committee membership, the areas on which the inquiry will focus and the first formal call/appeal for evidence, and start to identify potential witnesses
- May – June : Research/collation of evidence, Invitations sent out to witnesses
- Friday 6th July : Oral Evidence Day One in Westminster
- Friday 20th July : Oral Evidence Day Two in Westminster
- August- October : Production of the final report and recommendations
- 31st October : Press Release announcing the key findings of the inquiry
- 5th November: Publication of the final report
- 23rd November – Government response at the UKYP HOC - To coincide with the UK Youth Parliament sitting in the HOC Chamber in November: Formal Ministerial Response to the inquiry in the House of Commons
3. Recruitment of a maximum of 11 young people, appoint chair
Suggested Criteria to be members of the select committee pilot:-
- 18 and under
- Must be available, and commit to, all of the dates listed
- Can travel independently by train
- Already engaged in campaigning on transport issues locally and can demonstrate the ability to research and to scrutinise
- Confident communicator and can demonstrate that they can challenge effectively
- 2 Additional seats reserved (includes location, gender, disability)
Once the select committee pilot is announced, publish the terms of reference and make the relevant application details known to all the BYC youth networks. There will be an aspirational commitment to recruit young people from different geographical areas and cultural backgrounds so long as they meet the criteria.
4. Training/Induction & support for the young people to establish line of inquiry
Attend a two day residential induction/training event in London on April 10th & 11th, facilitated by the BYC with support from the Parliamentary Education Service and other input from relevant Parliamentary officials and if possible,MPs who currently serve, or have experience of serving, on a Parliamentary Select Committee.It would be a major boost and endorsement of the Youth Select Committee Pilot, if there was input and encouragement from current or past chairs of recent Select Committee Inquiries?
London location chosen in order to incorporate a visit to some of the committee rooms in Westminster that are currently used for Parliamentary Select Committees when taking oral evidence from witnesses.
5. Research/Evidence gathering
Key physical and online resources to be made available to help with research, including Hansard Reports of previous inquiries relating to transport, and seeking professional advice on how to access use successful methods of gathering evidence to support an enquiry.
Professional support from the current Transport Select Committee Clerks and the Parliamentary Education service would advise and support the Youth Select Committee members and help them focus on specific issuesthe research.
6. Identify potential witnesses
These would be suggested by the Youth Select Committee members at the induction/training event, supplemented by further suggestions from other young people, once the Youth Select Committeehas launched their inquiry and sent out the first call for evidence.
7. Call witnesses to answer questions and for the committee to hear oral evidence
Two one day events would be scheduled on Fridays (6th & 20thJuly 2012), using the same committee rooms used by Parliamentary Select Committees in Westminster.
Both days could be televised live and proceedings recorded in the usual way by Hansard.
Witness would be a mix of young people and adults including Secretary of State for Transport. This process would be supported by the Parliamentary Education Service and other key departments/officials,whose valuable help will be needed to endorse the invitation to witnesses and ‘open some doors’ in order that senior decision makers involved in transport respond, if called as a witness to supply written or oral evidence by the Youth Select Committee.
8. Write report and make recommendations
Hansard leading, in common with reports from Parliamentary Select Committee reports, with the Youth Select Committee engaged in reading and commenting on drafts, and having the final editorial overview on the wording of recommendations and conclusions.
9. Publish the Youth Select Committee’s Report and recommendations
Final Report launched by the Youth Select Committee on November 5th.
BYC and Parliament issue a joint Press Release (and possible press conference), with involving members of the Youth Select Committee and endorsement of their work by senior politicians and key stakeholders?
e.g.
- Secretary of State/ Minister for Transport (and shadow counterparts)?
- Chair and/or members of the currentParliamentary Transport Select Committee?
- Political Editors/Transport Correspondents from BBC/ITV/SKY NEWS/NEWSPAPERS?
- Senior Spokespeople from major regional and/or national Transport Providers
e.g. Sir Richard Branson? Chair of Transport for London?
Any help in engaging these decision makers, or suggesting others that should be contacted, would be be greatly valued by the Youth Select Committee.
10. Branding
The Youth Select Committee will be branded as delivered by the British Youth Council, supported by the Parliamentary Education Service/House of Commons
Sub branded with UK Youth Parliament, Young Mayors Network, Scottish Youth Parliament, Northern Ireland Youth Forum and Funky Dragon