Speaker chairs First News students Budget day debate
21 March 2013 (updated on 21 March 2013)
On Wednesday 20 March, more than 60 secondary school students from across the UK were welcomed to Speaker’s House to participate in a cross-panel debate chaired by Mr Speaker.
The students seized the opportunity to pose a series of testing questions to Liberal Democrat Duncan Hames MP, Labour’s Seema Malhotra MP and Conservative Tim Loughton MP.
First News, a leading children’s newspaper, invited their readers to send in their most pressing questions to be answered by MPs. Over 100 schools sent in their responses with 13 selected to attend the debate in Parliament.
The panel answered students’ questions on a wide range of issues including access to higher education, political accountability, and the environment, cycling safety, the Budget and women in politics.
Schools participating included those from London, Norfolk, Birmingham, Wales and the Isle of Wight.