Jack called to Wesminster

17-year-old Loreto College student, Jack McCann, a member of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, said: “I am delighted to be representing Northern Ireland as a member of the first ever Youth Select Committee inquiry on transport.

“I am passionate about consulting young people to make sure their views are reflected in policy.”

Jack, from Portstewart, is a Year 13 pupil at Loreto and is currently studying for his A-levels.

The Youth Select Committee mirrors the UK Parliament Select Committee structure and gives young people the opportunity to scrutinise and hold enquiries in to topics they’re interested in.

The group’s first inquiry, in July, will look at public transport – as identified as a priority by members of the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament in 2011.

The terms of reference for the inquiry are: ‘to inquire into issues and concerns around safe, affordable and accessible transport for young people and make recommendations to decision makers to address them.’

The Youth Select Committee will take evidence until Monday, May 14, The inquiry will take place on Friday, July 6 and Friday, July 13 in the same committee rooms used by Parliamentary Select Committees in Westminster, and their final report will be published in November.

Individuals and organisations can submit evidence to the Youth Select Committee by emailing: [email protected] The British Youth Council recruited the select committee members to represent a geographical, age and interest spread from across the UK, and arranged their induction and training.

Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “I am delighted to support this exciting new Select Committee project which empowers young people to examine the issues important to them and which highlights the power of politics to change things for the better.”