Meetings

The Committee agreed to close the petition on the basis that considerable time has passed since the last contact with the petitioner and the fact that the National Assembly for Wales is currently working to establish a youth parliament for Wales.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:

• await the petitioner’s views before deciding on any further action; and
• write to the Chair of the of the Children, Young People and Education Committee asking for information on undertakings given by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty on this matter during a recent evidence session with the Committee.

The Committee discussed the evidence session with Children in Wales held on 3 February and agreed to write to the Welsh Government and the Assembly Commission to ask:

·         whether any further progress has been made towards establishing a representative youth body in succession to Funky Dragon; and

·         for information on any meetings held in relation to the issues raised in the petition.

Catriona Williams OBE - Chief Executive, Children in Wales

Lynne Hill - Policy Director, Children in Wales

Ed Janes - Development Officer (Participation), Children in Wales

The following witnesses answered questions from the Committee:

·         Catriona Williams OBE – Chief Executive, Children in Wales

·         Lynne Hill – Policy Director, Children in Wales

·         Ed Janes – Development Officer (Participation), Children in Wales

Members discussed the evidence session and agreed to attempt to facilitate a way forward involving partners such as:

·         Children in Wales;

·         The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty;

·         The Children’s Commissioner; and

·         A representative of the Assembly Commission.

Tricia Jones, Jack Gillum, Catherine Jones and Anne Crowley representing Funky Dragon answered questions from the Committee.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to arrange an evidence session as requested by the petitioners.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to arrange an oral evidence session in an informal setting with Funky Dragon, the Children’s Commissioner, Children in Wales and a representative from the Assembly Commission to try to establish whether a way can be found to provide a continuing national representative platform for young people in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to

write to:

• the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty; 
• the Presiding Officer, in her role as Chair of the Assembly Commission;
• the Children’s Commissioner; and
• Children in Wales

seeking their views on the petition.