How effective are EU programmes at reducing youth unemployment?

Organisations involved in providing the UK Youth Contract will be quizzed by the House of Lords EU Sub Committee on the Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment, over the value of EU initiatives to the UK and to Europe as a whole.

At 4.15 pm the Committee will hear from Michael Larbalestier, Head of Research & Knowledge Management, and Jenny Cryer, Regional Operations Director, West Yorkshire, at Prospects Services; from Adrian Thacker, Senior Head of National Partnerships, The Prince's Trust and from Linda Dean, Managing Director, Rathbone.

They will be asked a variety of questions, including:

• In what ways could the UK response to the issue of soaring unemployment levels be improved?
• Do we need to re-examine the effectiveness of the best practice guidance for tackling youth unemployment?
• Are employers involved enough to help tackle youth unemployment?
• How valuable will EU initiatives be in responding to escalating unemployment levels? 
• How do you involve young people in policy discussions and with what results?

In a second session of the afternoon, at about 5.15 pm, the Committee will hear from Heather Cousins, Deputy Secretary, Resources, and Brian Smart, Head of NEETs Strategy, from the Department for Employment and Learning at the Northern Ireland Executive.

They will be asked a variety of questions, including:

• In Northern Ireland, how have young people been affected by the economic crisis and in which ways?
• How is youth unemployment being tackled in Northern Ireland?

The first evidence session will start at 4.15 pm on Monday 18 November in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.

The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.