UK Youth Parliament returns to Westminster
12 October 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Over 300 young people are set to make history by debating on the floor of the House of Commons Chamber.
Members of the UK Youth Parliament aged between 11 and 18 will hold a debate in the Houses of Parliament for the second year running when they meet in the House of Commons Chamber on 30 October.
This year's event follows a debate in the House of Lords last year and will see the House of Commons Chamber being used for the first time by anyone other than members of the Commons. MPs voted earlier this year to allow the UK Youth Parliament to hold the one-off debate in the House of Commons Chamber.
The motion for debate on 30 October will be selected from the most popular issues as submitted and voted on by young people across the UK.
The UK Youth Parliament was established in 1999 and aims to give young people across the country a voice at regional and national levels on issues that matter to them.
More than 600 young people are elected as members (MYPs) each year. Anyone between 11 and 18 is eligible to stand for election or vote, and elections take place in every part of the UK.
MYPs work with their MPs, local councillors, school and youth councils and peer groups on issues of greatest concern to their constituents.
More about young people and Parliament:
- Flickr: Shine week youth debate in House of Lords
- Parliament's Education Service
- UK Youth Parliament (external website)
Highlights of last year's debate