Young people from all over the UK converge at Westminster on Tuesday to voice their views on the Government's plans for young people.

Youth and Parliament Day '97 has been organised by the British Youth Council, the national forum for young people in the UK aged 16 - 25. It has invited 1,000 young people from diverse backgrounds such as trade unions, representatives of local and youth councils, members of the BYC and individuals to lobby MPs, question ministers and take part in a national poll of their views.

Martin Wilson, 20-year-old chair of the British Youth Council

Martin Wilson, the 20-year-old chairperson of the council, told BBC News Online that "the day is intended to serve a number of purposes, firstly to educate young people about the political process and Westminster. Secondly, it is an opportunity for young people to discover that there is a real chance to participate in the political process and make politicians accountable to them. We want to give MPs the message that young people want coherency throughout the government and we want them to listen to our concerns and aspirations."

One of the main features of the day is the debate being held at Church House next to the House of Commons. The motion under discussion is: "This house believes that lobbying Parliament is the best way for young people to bring about political change."

Lembit Opik, 32, proposing motion

Proposing the motion is 32-year-old Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, who feels that: "One of the biggest mistakes of the youth movement is not lobbying Parliament enough." He told News Online that one of his personal crusades as a politician was to throw open the doors of parliament and make more young people come in.

Mr Opik cites direct action as a tool many young people choose in order to highlight a particular cause, but he says this may not always be the most effective method. He believes that "direct action may fix a symptom but it doesn't solve the underlying cause and ultimately it is Parliament who pass the laws."

Jim Thomas, 23 ,opposing the motion

Opposing the motion is 23-year-old Jim Thomas, a campaigner for Greenpeace. He is in favour of direct action as a result of his experience as a former employee of the House of Commons, where he observed ministerial inactivity towards a cause until a strong public campaign was launched.

One of the inherent problems of young people using lobbying to bring about political change, he states, is "there are only approximately 650 MPs and thousands of people trying to be heard by them. It is very easy for young people who do not vote to be put to one side - that makes it more important for them to use the other ways to be heard."

Mr Thomas argues that young people can pursue other options, such as confronting businesses they suspect of unethical practices. Young people can demand changes to policies by writing and making ethical choices within their own lives, he outlines: "We are increasingly at an age when government runs after businesses as it is businesses that have the power."

Chairing the debate will be Martin Wilson, of the British Youth Council. Despite continual reports of today's disaffected youth, he anticipates that the mood of the young people participating will be one of optimism. He says: "Over the last six or seven months young people have witnessed changes in the last government, changes in politics and changes in views expressed, and young people will be wanting that to reflect in their own lives."

The rest of the day's activities will focus around a version of Question Time. Under scrutiny for education and employment questions will be MPs Kim Howells, Don Foster and Steven Dorrell. General question time will be headlined by Teresa Gorman, Charles Kennedy and George Foulkes. The final themed question time will be on issues centred around citizenship and the environment. MPs accountable to the young will be Alun Michael, James Clappison, Alan Beith, Nick Raynsford, Tim Yeo and Matthew Taylor.

Other activities that young people can take part in are meetings with local MPs, watching the proceedings in the House of Commons and Lords, and visiting an exhibition and video presentation on Parliament: Past and Present.

The day culminates with the results of a poll of the 1,000 young participants' views about politics, voting and the policies that affect them.

Youth and Parliament Day '97 is particularly significant for relations between the young and politicians. As Lembit Opik points out: "December 9 is an essential day ... it will prompt MPs into realising that youth affairs are not an optional extra, their own future in politics will depend on what the young say. The day should awaken young people to the power they have which may frighten some of the older MPs."
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BBC Radio 4's Today programme discusses Youth and Parliament Day '97

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