In pictures: Students question the Chancellor

Young people from across the North West met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to voice their concerns about opportunities for their generation.

On Friday 24 September, about twenty 14 to 19-years-olds presented George Osborne with the "Young Citizens' Action Agenda for the North West" which represents the views of over 12,000 young people from the region.

The report expresses their views on a range of issues including political and personal finance education, volunteering opportunities and the media portrayal of young people.

ACTION AGENDA KEY FINDINGS 18% feel they can influence politics 38% think they are taught Personal Finance Education 52% have never volunteered 67% think the media portrays them unfairly SOURCE: Based on the views of 12,000 young people in NW since 2009, Institute of Citizenship

Following the presentation at the event run by the Institute for Citizenship, an audience of about 40 young people were involved in a question and answer session with the Chancellor, chaired by presenter of BBC North West Tonight and Politics Show NW, Annabel Tiffin, and social activist, Geoff Thompson MBE.

Fifteen School Reporters from Knutsford High School in Cheshire were also at the Rudheath Youth Centre in Cheshire, to cover the event for the BBC.

Here are their news updates from the event as it happened (times in GMT):

Overall the question and answer session was very interesting and many issues were covered and all the audience left in a positive mood having had all their questions answers.

The audience proclaim that it was "a great opportunity" and "fantastic" and that Mr Osborne "took everyone's views on board and he really listened". One woman in the audience even announced: "you are the future!".

I have now left with my mind full of intelligent thoughts!

During my observations of the discussion I thought there was little talk of action, just promises. Does Mr Osborne have any intent of fulfilling them? A lot of the young people are wondering how he will achieve anything with all the cuts to the public services.

We were all very scared at the start but by the end many of us were forced to settle unanswered questions.

I asked a question about politics in education and the Chancellor said that teaching younger ages about politics and money is important and should probably be improved. I found the whole experience very interesting and enlightening.

Mr Osborne is just leaving after a very interesting debate.

George Osborne said: "young people in audiences like this ask much better questions than most people!"

Knutsford High students, despite being the youngest in the room, have been brave enough to confidently question George Osborne about academy schools and whether politics should be taught even earlier in schools.

All of us smiled with pride as our classmate Alex became the first of the Knutsford students to confront Mr Osborne!

Mr Osborne is calmly answering difficult questions asked by angry job seekers and university savers.

One person in the audience said: "I have applied for 160 jobs this year and with no success and university is just a dream for me."

A young woman asks a difficult question about cutting benefits and George cleverly answers that we have to cut back somewhere. She retorts, why don't the banks find the solution.

The floor is full with young people with their hands up wanting to ask the Chancellor questions.

We are now discussing whether primary school children should be taught about politics.

We just had a small discussion about school, mostly the people going to university are participating in the subject. When we were talking about the military George said: 'the most important thing is protecting our people'.

Warm-up was very reassuring as it made us very comfortable and Mr Osborne entered with a smile and started off by talking about how he knows what we want more money to be spent on but not what should have less money spent on.

The first audience question was about military funding and now we are being lead on to lots of interesting issues.

George Osborne has arrived and the audience is now asking questions. We are now discussing tuition fees - all going well so far.

The opening discussion started by Annabel asking a surprising question of ' What is everybody's favourite biscuit?''. The crowd reacts with mutual laughter and the tense atmosphere is now evaporated. Now the warm up topic has moved on to the subject of university finances.

It is tense as we wait for George Osborne to arrive but there is a buzz of excitement filling the room too.

The audience is now asking questions to Annabel and Geoff.

Geoff Thompson - after we did a Mexican wave!

BBC presenter Annabel Tiffin is now talking to us before the Chancellor arrives and there is a funny discussion about biscuits to warm us up!

We are all sitting in the lecture hall and its all very tense with people milling around waiting for Osborne's arrival.

We've just arrived and are sitting in a small hall with about 40 people. It's quite intimidating!

As we all stand patiently waiting in the small crowded holding hall by the entrance, the excitement brews quietly as more and more people are shown into the main theatre - soon it will be us! I am suddenly nervous, as soon it will be our time to shine.

For further details about the presentation, please visit the Institute for Citizenship website.

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