Transcripts For CSPAN Washington This Week 20121231

The debate, a project to encourage them to stage their own debates on the very issues which the u. K. Yb are discussing in the combat. We know schools across the country are tuning in to watch and that is hugely welcome. Just on process and housekeeping, let me say the following. First, nyp who wish to speak should stand in their place, or raise their hands if seated in a wheelchair. Secondly, and most importantly, nyp should always say their name and region at the beginning of their speech. Otherwise the official record of our proceedings will be deficient. The writers will not know who you are unless you say. If you be good enough to pause, momentarily, before you start your speech, that will give an opportunity for the microphone to be activated. Your gain here youre going to hear from the leader of the house and the leader, whom is my delight to welcome here today. Leader of the house andrew, and angela. And the Parliament Tear undersecretary of state at the department of education, the childrens minister edward. Edward, andrew, angela, its a delight to have you. Before we hear from andrew and angela, i call in order to read a message from the prime minister, from yorkshire. [applause] member of the parliament, im [inaudible] we are this is your opportunity to debate by more than [inaudible] 260,000 people. [inaudible] include [inaudible] the children and the people. He has [inaudible] to listen to your [inaudible] and translate your views to the hard work of government. Your meeting today will be young people ato the opportunity to debate issues that [inaudible] its a big thing. I wish you the latest [inaudible] i look forward to hearing your debates. Thank you. [applause] thank you for reading that. That is a delight to have the prime ministers support. I now call to say some words to us, the leader of the house of commons. Mr. Andrew. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Members of the youll parking lotment, im debated to that righted to welcome you for the Fourth Annual sitting. The sitting have become an accomplished part of the parking parliament calendar. They have become so well established. And leader of the house, i am the representative of the government to this house of commons. And of the house of commons to the government. But today i am pleased to be able to be here to representative both the government and the house with you the Youth Parliament. I know, what is said here today will be heard both by government and members of the house of commons. Indeed in the house yesterday, i was able to cite the debates today, and their relevance to current debates before the house commons. As Winston Churchill said in the chamber as we began to rebuild the wartime destruction in 1943 we shape our buildings and after wards our buildings shape us. Its impossible not to be influenced by these surroundings. And i know from your previous sitting here the quality of debate by members of the Youth Parliament reflect that well. The topic, selected for debate today will shape the work the Youth Parliament for the coming year. I know, too they will shape the wider political landscape. As leader of the house, a priority for me is to increase the Public Engagement with parliament through innovation like the work of the back bench here. Were making debates more assessable to member of the public. I know, todays sitting part of Parliament Work will increase engagement. This that with respect theres no clearer side of the great work that nyp is doing than a quarter of the Million People that took part in the make your mark debate. Debate have a special character by contrast, i remember myself taking part in debates in school and college, they are often rather more about style than sub science. Sometimes they appear to miss the point entirely. I remember at the student union, i was president once, we had a motion which instructed the United States to remove its troops instructed the United States that is a bit of big ask. Here in this place, debates are different. Debates have consequences. The most significant speeches are not necessarily the most stylish or the most fluid. They are the ones born of knowledge, of passion, of commit, and of concern. Most of all, they are made by those who are here not only to speak for themselves, but to represent the people. Todayed that is your opportunity, to speak out, based on your convictions and concerns to speak for young people whom you represent. And to speak out on issues which are relevant and where you can exert an influence inspect doing so, it will be in the best tradition of parliament democracy. Before i finish, can i pay tribute to the administrate colleague. The administrate of children and families who is responsible for improving opportunity for young people and specifically for the support which the government provides to the Youth Parliament. I would like to pay tribute to his predecessor a member of parliament who is a passionate and vocal supporters of the Young Parliament inside and outside government. Mr. Speaker ilgd like to thank you and the officers of the house and how was service who helped prepare for today and many staff including may i say from my own office who have volunteered their time to welcome members of the Youth Parliament had this morning. Members, i wish you well. I hope you will enjoy your time here and leave this place inspired by the surroundings, by the debate you will have, the decisions you reach, and inspire perhaps some of you to return here as members of Parliament One day in the future. Thank you. [applause] andrew, thank you for that. Before i ask angela to say some words, i reference the fact that a number of colleagues are here present to support the parliament, peter, you are referred to the former childrens minister. Tim, its great to see you in your police. We have immediately behind tim karenback from regions that was constituency name. It was exchanged by the area its in london. We are pleased to see her. Thank you for coming. We have andrew in the gallery from hyatt peak. We have [inaudible] the member of parliament who is in the gallery as well. Colleagues are here to support you and colleagues its great to see you here. I call the leader of the house, angela. [applause] [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my opposite in the chamber, the leader of house for his warm words and welcome to you, i, of course echo. If i can offer you some advice about before you start your debate today, i would say respect each others contributions, we always demonstrate an our proceedings how much we follow that particular plft particular thing. Make your arguments be passionate about what you believe. Because thats what politics is all about. I should warn you there are not to make the same mistake from one ap from the government bench made earlier year this year. Unique in the parliament, mr. Speaker, he interrupted his own speech when his musical tie went off. [laughter] and i can tell you, he got an angry look from the Deputy Speaker in the chair. You can see it on youtube if you are interested. [laughter] hopefully you have silenced any such gadgets you brought with you. If you havent, i can tell you they will most certainly sabotage you by going off when you are in mid flow. Everything on silent, gadgetted turned off and hopefully not brought. Since though its worth sitting in to the Youth Parliament has been a powerful one to young people across the country. When you finish, i hope youll go back home and tell your friends and your classmates about todays debate and help get more young people engaged in the political realm. I have always said if you dont do politics, you have it done to you. [inaudible] you choose ton address the important issues. Transport, employment, marriage equality, and education. These are the issues that this has debates regularly. And im sure your insights will inform our debates too. The current financial crisis has hit young people hard. 150,000, 16 to 24yearold have been unemployed for more than six months. Its more important now than ever to stand up and make your voices heard. Today is part of that. All three Major Political parties have shown an interesting in lowing the voting age to 16. Hope you can be ambassador to show your generation are engaged, passionate and key to getting involved in the political process. [inaudible] the parliament why you understand that politics is not a spectator sport. You have shown that your willing to take responsibility for articulating the vision of young people today. And you have shown you care about what is going on in our society. And you want to change it to the better. Its been a wish mine to see more women involved in politics. We need the voices of women and girls to be heard across the world. If were going to make our society fairer and more equal. I would like to offer a particular welcome to the women who are here today. Be proud and speak out. Finally, today is really about politicians like me talking about you. Its about debating issues that you have decided on that affect you most. Dont be nervous. Enjoy it. And i hope you remember the experience for years to come. [applause] angela, thank you for that. Colleagues in case youre not aware. Each debate is expected to run for approximately twenty five minutes in total. So there cant formal limit on speech length from the back benches. You realize were looking for very short speeches. And ill try to accommodate as many colleagues as i can in the course of the day. Order, order. The Youth Parliament will consider the first motion of the day relating to public transport as printed on the order paper. To move the motion, i call from the northeast of england, mr. [inaudible] [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Public transport is a fundamental part of the lives of young people. I am a younger cousin, and i look in dismay in the idea that he and many other young people alike face a daily struggle to get to work, school, and doctors appointments. Despite the work over the past year, public transport is still not up to scratch. Thats why young people across the United Nations have public transport the absolute priority here today. The very idea that we send our young people trudging through snow to get to school in rural areas have no other alternative is outrageous. More than one in five students have considered dropping out of the education because of financial difficulties. I do not blame them. In the eyes of Public Transport Companies [inaudible] at the age of 16 or even 1 despite being legally a child, despite being an education, despite earning next to no North Carolina at all. Students are encouraged to achieve their potential, but simply struggle to afford to get to school or college. Almost 50 of 16 to 18yearolds say they struggle to meet the transport costs. Lets put this to context. This is a approximately six million u. K. Citizens equating to the population of par guy refuse the right to fulfill their academic potential. Its not the only factor on the burden on our shoulders for young people. [inaudible] it must be improved today. An joamp whemming 77 of people [inaudible] public transport both infrequent and [inaudible] the government claims britain can deliver. On their right. But is this really the type of public transport we want delivering on the youth of today to hundred or punks wallty to decline our opportunity . No. No no. No. This sunt isnt just about convenience or public transport itself. But about young people being late for work, school, and doctors appointments. The consequence of this, costing jobs, costing grades, costing nhs. We must ask ourself today do we want to become a catastrophic hind drains upon our employers. Destruct our teachers and obstruct our health service. No, no, no. The opposition arguement is like discredit our effort claiming its not enough campaign merely deserve the focus of divide region. Over the past year, we have seen great progress [inaudible] leading the way. But just as the u. K. Deficit is not balanced with the government public transport issue are not solved in one year. Were public transport continued a national priority. We cant [inaudible] for the like of my young cousin. We can deliver more transport to get students from point a to point b. We can build a better, Brighter Future for young people. So when the opposition argument say its not a National Campaign, a focus of the divided region. I tell you this, divided we are weak, but united are the nation we are strong. More nation, one notion, one campaign. Better public transport. [applause] [applause] thank you very much ib keyed for that. I note we have been joined by the former government chief when the labour party was in office nick browne. The member of parliament. Its great to have you here. Thank you for coming. To oppose the motion, i call from the east of england. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. We are here for one reason. To make contain and empower the young people that we so proudly represent. But, the Parliament Campaign for the next year to be made public transport better, and acceptable for both. We are not giving the young people that we have [inaudible] the justice they deserve. [inaudible] have been the campaign for the last year. We have not achieved the goal of making transport cheaper, better, and exceptional. So this year, lets pay that is more assessable to be reached. Which one question impact instead of continually [inaudible] our Campaign Year after year. We are here to make contain [inaudible] campaign that is not reachable. In apartmentment we are protect our Youth Services and civilities. We continue to see [inaudible] local governments and local consulates to keep these facilities. So with reable to be here today at the house of parliament. By asking the cheaper transport and the safety of our Youth Services, we are [inaudible] at risk. We must focus on one campaign. Not bomb board the government with everything we would like to change. More over, it is an issue not a national one. In the northeast of england, they have a system of transport in comparison to london. London already has great discount to young people on both buses. And i think all the yp with london that this campaign was not be relevant to them. This is highlight how hard concentrated work of the campaign would be. Also, there is a [inaudible] debatable some of us here today. If you were age 16 to 25. It can be [inaudible] to suggest 28 pounds and give you a train fare. Its not just fantastic [inaudible] must be taken by us and promoted by us. Instead of us spending another year on the unRealistic Campaign. Finally, as a whole country, we have an public transport service. Of course, there are going to be problems with it. We are human after all. Lets stop complaining and focus other campaign [inaudible] vital, valuable and realistic this year. A review of the curriculum [inaudible] we do not need transport at the campaign. If you are unhappy go and do something about it. Make it change locally. So nationally we can bo focus on another more effective campaign. So i plead with you here today to not vote for the u. K. Parliament campaign for the next year to be made public transport cheaper, better, and acceptable for all. Think. Do you want an effective curriculum to prepare us for life . Teach us about politics . [inaudible] education and [inaudible] which can be achieved in a year . Or do you want to drag out the Campaign Making public transport cheaper, better, and assessable for all . For at least another year . Its your decision. [applause] thank you very much indeed. We have two great speeches to get us to a cracking start. And im not looking for contributions from the floor, yes. The first person i saw was the young woman there. [inaudible conversations] yes. Start by saying name and area. From North York Shire. As were awear and public transport is a big issue [inaudible] and again this is debate. Im from North York Shire we run the [inaudible] this summer which allows young people to travel on buses for one pound for a whole day. The scheme was a great achievement it was only one county wide and by the north [inaudible] council therefore we came across many barriers for a staff not all of us complete [inaudible] and when they did it was often on their own term. In addition it was very hard for us to promote it being youth council. We didnt do it justice it deserved. Im trying to say is that this surely is something that question stand there and say like we did last year this is the most important campaign. Unless the government listens to us, our makes a National Policy for nationally [inaudible] transport for young people, nothing is going to change. [applause] and we have a speaker speaking from the southwest. A couple from the southwest . Yes. The gentleman in the back with his yes indeed. You sir. [laughter] [inaudible] in the southwest. Ive been here for two years now, i can tell you the Biggest Issue for my constituents is transport. My constituents have to pay 600 pounds for transport pass if they want to go to college. And of course next year nationally going to college or staying in education will be compulsory. Of course its a National Issue to make sure the people arent paid to stay in education. Its a National Campaign, lets stand united lets stand against the transport company. Lets make sure that young people have cheaper and more assessable transport. I can tell you there are a lot of people in the room who really need it. Okay. Thank you. [applause] have we got somebody from the West Mid Lands . Somebody from the West Mid Lands . Yes. This young man here. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My name is [inaudible] from [inaudible] public transport is a very important issue for young people, its on their agenda. In my area and in my constituency theres a lot of young people that illegally use public transport forging bus tickets, forging train tickets. The reason for this what is the reason . The reason is young people cant afford bus fairs, cant afford train fares. If they have to get a job they have catch a train or it bus. Where do they get the money from . Like the nyp from east of england, maybe last year it was a failure. However, we are Youth Parliament do we away from something in . 0. We stand up. And transport [inaudible] and something needs to be done about it. Thank you. We do have a great system. It is a great issue. However, right now the economy does not have enough money to expand this things. We need to focus on at the priorities education. As you guys have seen, last year was not too good the Education System definitely needs to be looked at. Public transport will be a long term goal. However, right now the economy is not ready for it. We need to focus on other issues such as nhs and the Education System. [applause] i am now looking for a speaker from wales. What about the young woman in the bed jacket . Thank you. This is for the past year the year are large parties in the uk we can focus on. You know how much is spent on transport . Billions. I know it is not one of the basics for this year as it was last year. It seems as if we are only half of the people what about those young people do, as we know, are homeless or under circumstances such as that . It seems the rich getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. Why can we not have everybody rather than those who can already access everything . [applause] thank you for that. Northern ireland. What about this man from Northern Ireland . John cameron, Northern Ireland. I support this regional issue. In Northern Ireland to use foreign in the u. K. Youth parliament. All the organizations came together, which is in theater are working very successfully. We have to remember we are the u. K. Youth parliament and we have to represent every region, so there for transport stop with the Northern Ireland and its not going to be an issue that Northern Ireland would focus on observing topic in the future. We need to think of the issues. We need to remember that needs of education and employment. We have to represent the people. We are the Uks Parliament and to represent as many young people as possible, make sure they get the education they need and the labor skills and make sure they have skills and ability to find a job. When we give them the right schools, theyll be able to worry about public transport. [laughter] thank you. These are great speeches. There releases sanctum punchy, so congratulations. Theyre going really well. Semi from the northwest. Im mad at her with with a gray suit and yellow tie. We all came here in the region. People like to have a big issue and it is known to transfer is the point of giving Free Education when young people cant edit . We are started and we need to finish it up out of power with god and continue doing what we do i think we get nowadays. [applause] weve got somebody on the benches to the southeast . Who have been cut from the southeast . What about the gentleman at the unfair. Yes, you serve. Dont let this election around. It is here. Your moment has arrived. Judgments are misrepresenting the hunton constituency. Thank you are a much, mr. Speaker. Public transport is an issue that will not go away most Decisive Action is taken. Time and time again young people in my constituency telling me public transport. Maybe because it doesnt go far enough or perhaps they are expected to pay a full adult fare until theyre 18. I young people in the area seemed to me they feel the effects of legislation and ive also got young people who say they traveling by Public Public transfer completely unacceptable. This has to stop, mr. Speaker. Im pleased that the president has been able to achieve this year on a National Basis the committee has been a shining example of what can happen when young people get together and work on a particular issue. Im grateful to the department of education transfer for showing support for the process is less transport providers and charities who have also shown their support. Mr. Speaker, transport is one of those problems we can work on a local as well as National Basis. Im a local level and cease to work with the council as well as local transport providers to create a new use for it, which i hope will increase dialogue between young people and transport bodies. However, were nearly there in terms of achieving National Success and i do stress the faith is in this campaign. Last week i spoke the major providers across the u. K. And the present recommendations, one including no young person of pain adult fare. It is like that of a rail car, but again, we need a coordinated dynamic approach to medicine or Youth Parliament has got to stand together today to keep public transport a National Campaign and make sure we achieve success. Ordinarily there. [applause] now, im looking for a speaker from the east midlands. Anybody from any semblance . We have. Weve got two. You hear. I am from derbyshire. The u. K. Way p. Is in its early days and is already transports mobile lingering issue for us. In my constituency, 6 of young people voted transport as their primary concern i want to gamble the stories the same for most of you. In my area i heard from young people to pay three pounds for bus fare to and from school. Assuming the tape 10 is a school, the 663 pounds per school year to take the bus to my school from which im sure youll agree is an exorbitant amount. Most people have no option apart from the bus and for some prices higher. These young people and their parents are paying a tax for education and in what country do live in were repeated underscore . Nobody should be made to pay for school, especially when the money is to line the pockets . Public transport by the polling accessibility and treatment of disabled and the public transport in our country they desperately need. Issues clearly in the best interest of young people we represent and to ignore it beyond just the people. Lets make this year the year were reaching tranfour us to be the last year the issue comes out. Every restraint ticket the gender balance and this is no exception. I am looking for from the mill stickers, in particular from london. Okay, im going to take a woman in the second tobacco. Yourself, thank you. A speaker in opposition for public transport plane that london can tranfour is a toprated issue. It is not adjusted to young people and is the main issue. Nationally we identify issues of tranfour and we need to see a representing him. Thank you. [applause] i think weve got one from scotland. Mori dalston from scotland. I dont think even if it has a heather girl people who voted the second pass system in europe. In this case, i do not think because theres a High Percentage of children living in aberdeen that that means are ready to save the people well enough. We should have issues like increasing the minimum wage because that is affecting every single Young Persons employment. Thank you. [applause] how about a young person from the southeast . To a quick click [inaudible] concerts that raised young person is important. From scotland, Northern Ireland, west of england by transport. However this is a lingering issue. We have tried again and again to try and make cheese and make transport cheaper, but we have moved issues different because we know this is the people. As young people we have to make this a National Issue, not just one year after year. This is the year of change. 2013 is coming. We cant have the same issues. Its not supposed to be fair on everyone. So i beg you, lets try Something Different. [applause] how about the female speaker from the northwest . Anybody from the northwest . Yes. Whatever we do, i try to think different your name. I am Anthony Dames friend northwest. Whatever we do, trying to pick Something Different in so many places is difficult, especially when theres more important things to focus on. [applause] okay, time is slightly against us. I now need to call in order to conclude the debate from the northeast, mr. Matthew wilson. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Transport has become a necessity. We use it to get educators, to get health care and to get employment. In recent years, transport it backwards. Crisis have rocketed in the liability has made young peoples lives are difficult. Today we have heard that cost is the Biggest Issue for young people. Statistics have shown that 16 to 18yearolds the other transport fares are too high. To put them into context, that is more than double the population of luxembourg complaining that their transport fares are too high. The speaker has highlighted a number to problem. What age can want pain adult fare . As you are aware, 16 is the age. But in some places, 14 is the age. Im sorry, but if you think a 14yearold as an adult, you need to take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror. [applause] i agree with the view select committee cited the age the 18th because that is when somebody becomes an adult. Weve campaigned with many in this chamber support, for instance for 16. You ought to be an adult. So the soothsayer you have to pay adult prices as well . Is not right and responsibilities taken next. [laughter] the first speaker highlighted between his Art Collective bargaining to continue the campaign for price, acceptability and reliability of. However, weve also heard a speaker but had transport is managed regionally and not nationally, meaning that National Campaign would be confusing and disjointed. The northeast of england has a completely different system as does Northern Ireland. The first speaker quoted, divided as the region we are weak. United as a nation we are strom. Well, i tell you this, we cannot be united if we are off fighting systems. [cheers and applause] was this campaign worth it . This was last Years Campaign. To be too much . Regionally people achieve some as the regional campaign. We do focus on a campaign that was more impact nationally. Can we be united to bring more quality to couples . Can we be united to bring more opportunities in education and employment . Those are questions only you can answer. Her remember this, when we are here at this time next year, lets not say we achieved. We achieved it together. And not among my friends, is what real achievement is. [cheers and applause] and that is what Youth Parliament is all about. [cheers and applause] matthew, thank you for addressing mass with such passion and forthrightness. You remind me of me when i was a few years older than you are. You spoken with great distinction, as has everybody in this debate and i said from the bottom bottom of my heart as those they had its very much respected and appreciated. Im not sure that its deputy leader of the house and the liberal democrat member of parliament. Tom, welcome, thank you for joining us. We now move to the second debate and use terms that will consider the second notion of the day relating to getting ready for work is printed on the order paper, to move the motion, i caught from wales, mr. Ryan davis. [cheers and applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Imagine a world where only a minority of young people get jobs, where too many degrees just a few years basted. Imagine what it would be like if they were millions of benefits and theres nothing we could do about it. Some of you think were already on this road and theres need for us to take action now. By go to school and Higher Education are several years to not get a job . White and up 60,000 pounds in debt . All of us in the u. K. Youth parliament had the power to make change happen and i believe the issue needs to be chosen as our national came in to not only benefit from people today, but benefit young people tomorrow. Recent figures show youth unemployment has dropped to 62,000 or 1. 2 million. Petitioners youth unemployment is still disappointingly high despite current efforts, young people need education and skill development. Media says this might become the forgotten generation emphatically, this rings true. Creation said that to bring to your attention. Firstly, a study found there was an attitude cap room in young people are not coming on us coming on this inevitable advice on jobs they could realistically expire two. Support needs to be improved for young peoples progress. Its about selfesteem. A job history footing in life in the city of parliament, we must strive to give every young person opportunity to contribute fully to society. Work experience introduces some people at the work. Its valuable and essential to education of young people. At present there is no obligation for schools or local authorities to provide this so opportunities vary greatly. My constituency, almost everyone goes to Work Experience combined with extremely beneficial. They are real and tangible benefits. Together, Mobutu Campaign or rationalization of opportunities that if effective, viable and highquality for everyone. Thermostats, what about this people who lack education . Its got the number of apprenticeships are writing, but despite an overall price and the number of apprenticeships, 75 of increase is due to people over 25 years old. We need to provide stable apprenticeships for people of all ages and young people who are the skilled workers of tomorrow. We can work with the government to create sustainable apprenticeships for you people. Finally, members of Youth Parliament today need to choose the issue of getting ready for work. Let us strive for and print support. But i strive for improvement of Work Experience and let us strive for sustainable apprenticeships. The government have jobs. They are employed. Without scrutiny, assistance and support, i generation childrens generation will not get jobs will not get the place in society they deserve. So i employ you, vote for this issue. We need to get ready for work. Thank you. [applause] ryan, thank you indeed for that excellent start to the debate. To oppose the motion, i call from one, mr. David hall. [applause] b. Mike thank you, mr. Speaker. What youth unemployment is at its highest, so is help available for 16 to 24yearolds. While in 17 support for me to get ready for work, what about the 11, 12 and 13yearolds that you and i were present . Is a concern that they share . How is that for them to be the uks primary campaign . By number of young people without jobs personages 0. 5 between this and last year, the number of apprenticeships started in the same. With nearly half a million. Getting ready for us and need to be the uks primary campaign. Inspiring the future, an example of a new game we see employees across the u. K. Going to secondary scores to talk about their jobs, careers and education respect to get where they are now. Victor schools have already signed up and more follow. Getting ready for work should not be the u. K. Youth Parliament Campaign. Yes, there is a very high level of unemployment and it is very turning, but this is by thursday 1 billion pounds funding from the 160,000 employers working the job center plus and 250,000 new Work Experience. The result is a creation of these contracts whatever the government. But its not just the government. A team of much pretorius at glorious, youre fired, sugar, its been set up at the opposition to chuckle youth unemployment in middlesboro, liverpool, nottingham and have another areas in britain at the highest levels of youth unemployment. Getting ready for work cannot be the u. K. Parliament campaign. Hes unemployment is clearly a large concern for young people. Otherwise he wouldnt debate here today. However, there issues with members of the parliament, relevant and effective the campaign on. What use are more jobs if we dont learn essential life skills and education . Howling of people google to access this increased number of jobs the public tranfour doesnt get us where we need to be when we need to be there . The value of having a job if were discriminated against and their son april 9 the National Wage for everyone. This campaign is not recognizing a people we represent that are more brightly concerned of getting to school on time. Not whether they get a job and five, six, seven years from now. The education age receipts in, they will be more and more young people about frankly be ignored if we make this our campaign. With the next 1 billion pounds funding, getting ready for work does not need to be the campaign. With 160 dozen players who commit jobs they shouldnt be the u. K. Youth Parliament Campaign was 250,000 new Work Experience placements simply cannot be the Youth Parliament campaign. [applause] thank you very much indeed. I was looking for a female speaker from the west to glimpse a possible. Yes, please. Welcome. Thank you, mr. Speaker. 1 million young people currently unemployed across the country is not the fault of young people, but a reflection of the economic climate. All too often we are valued. I can assure you not enough is being done. We all go to school and get qualifications, but that is not enough. We need Work Experience. Many professionals coming into schools and colleges and given us practical advice. But most importantly, we need jobs to apply these skills. Thank you. [applause] Northern Ireland for the southeast. Southeast. Who have forgotten the southeast . Young woman there. And Bethany Scott i have represent the lesser folk area. My school often promises to make the transition from school to college news. However, this year, along with many other schools, we stopped Work Experience. The best way to succeed is to prepare. About society is the best possible terms of preparing for work. I understand the government is seeking experienced from 15 to 16 euros and recommending 17 to 18yearold has increased. However, everyone can still get jobs, even if they are parttime. The work pace that can still be very important in maturing for each groups. My mom works for job since plus in her perception is most unemployed young people is because they lack a fundamental work skills to be engaged. I thought fair amount to talk about life outside school, but have experienced is much more important. How come i feel comfortable, confident to work for a country when we cant get the necessary disk. Thank you [applause] have a god a speaker from the share . Yes, thank you. In my reach of the biggest problem is unemployment. Education is the basic skills. I believe we should improve quality in education to make sure the opportunity to get a job with the opportunity that we hope them. Thank you. [applause] how about the southwest of england . Who have accounts in the southwest . What about young women nearest to me. Still a long way, but the nearest. Im claudia marshall. I think youth unemployment is not going to get better for young people, especially ones who have often have massive debts in their selfconfidence. We should apply them to real life, but in school and college. [applause] people are now leaving a need. Shes very friendly. Whoever got from the northwest . Okay, what about the young man in the gray suit here. Were experience teams could qualifications inspires us to develop our skills in the process and repairs to work. The education of demitasse scores, and people take part Work Experience 4 less likely to be unemployed. A different report by david miller band said too many young people dont get highquality Work Experience. The cbi have argued and i quote thats hard to state the potential employment to Work Experience. Research suggests that quality benefit the most. However, current Work Experience is poor quality with young people given little to do to better education for the advice and guidance they received. Not to say they have Work Experience. Its getting harder and harder for you people to find what is needed. Its up to us to be the voice to create hope for the hope is. Our National Campaign will be the first brick in the right of many young peoples lives. Thank you. [applause] im now looking for someone from north east of england. Who pick up . Yes, thank you. I come from an area where a lot of people dont go on to education and therefore believe the shop will be a better option for them. However, the doughnuts goes which are transferable and to work such a young age. They are taught in education issued. Everything you learn will give you a job at the end. But if you ask us what the education it back to us, what good will it be . We are told we need experience for a job, but we cant get a job because we have no experience. Therefore, its obviously an issue. Everyone here im sure you know somebody who was sacked by this and therefore, i believe this should be our campaign. [applause] i think this young gentleman has been stating that quite a bit. Its your turn, sir. [inaudible] london said the 11, 12, 13yearolds dont need to worry about Work Experience. I am 12 and my friends and people i speak to think that getting a good education is very important. Our school pushes to get good grades and exams season going to university and get a good career. But, its more important to have prior to send the skills you need it for example, Work Experience can teach us have good grades. For example, if you go to age Job Interview with allstars, but no work. Thank you damage. [applause] thank you. That is a fantastic contribution and certainly when i was 12, i couldnt have jumped to doing it. A huge tribute to human nature made to the significance of the Youth Parliament. I think were looking for somebody from the east of england. Who have a definite east the east of england . Yes, thank you. [inaudible] [laughter] Kate Reynolds from suspect. Experience is essential, but they no longer afford experience. Its an opportunity that young people cannot afford to miss out on. I hope my constituents spend Work Experience. Some have lifechanging experiences that make them rethink which he says. Where can a marketer hospital is always listens to what it is preferable to ask summary of miniature sin. It gives you the opportunity to experience work environments. Long hours and Everything Else working life entails. Wherever you go, theres always listens. It may not be where you want, but im sure theres going to be a lesson learned. Every adolescent is the opportunity to prepare for work so they can start careers at an equal stance. [applause] im looking for a young man from one else. Again, theres a case of mistaken identity. The one nearest to me. Young people in my constituency said evenness goes as good when it got experience, but why cant you and skills in the classroom such as Lifelong Learning that the curriculum. Work experience is always good, but youre not going to go to get the skills and this is good, but i think it would be better for one people in the long run. [applause] im sorry there is confusion in monaco. I would now like to call the woman who thought i was calling but i wasnt he running it now. Every shia from, please. [inaudible] we need your experience and training for work in the modern world if this is essential for young people. For me, Work Experience is the best opportunity. Some feminist national and not just for locally, but nationally, give young old. [applause] im sorry. Every year tennis against a senate just make the point that theres always a greater demand than time available. Im sorry about it. Theres excellent debate and rumor debates to come. If you didnt get in this time and i think what they want to contribute and subsequent debate. I must call to conclude the debate, representing army welfare services, germany, ms. Jade sexton. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. With this issue, no young person is employable for the reasons for us was reasons against why they should or shouldnt be to make you in the coming year. The first one is obviously not people vote for us to be today also vote for this issue. This shows that they feel we have a parliament and to tackle what they seek is obviously an issue. And at the least supported by statistics statistics, which show youth unemployment is high and they are great between the years 2011 and 2012, even though there has been a decrease in octavo. If the opposition pointed out, this is probably the generation of the highest rate of unemployment. This was also pointed out that the rate increase, so does the level of health. With more young people participating to gain experience in a workplace environment. The question is, do we really need to increase the level of support for unemployed young people . Is there support out there for them . Is that not known where to go for help is available. In my school, we do Work Experience. It used to be two weeks worth of the place of your choice. That is to cut down recently to lift a oneweek smirk and you have to gunnysack area. People here dont Work Experience. About half of you. But still its been cut down. What i fear is in my school they will cut down Work Experience and so you dont it anymore. But the search experience gave me the valuable skills he learned that oneweek to go into a career later on in life . Tamimi to make Work Experience a statutory obligation for schools or is it a case of a young person going to sort out themselves . The final point is that a person gets anywhere between 13 to 17 years worth of education in japan, but the chance of them being able to retain a job. Anytime youre ready to recommend there is no hurrying people unrealistically wasted the majority of life. Is it fair . However, we have some people have schemes in place at the youth Achievement Award and inspiring the future already in place. A help young people develop leadership, teamwork and dedication skills, which are all highly for employers. Its her birthday to you at the annual campaign to self initiate initiatory dissolution . Is it fair to be the focus on young people that affects all ages . Is not the right time to be the campaign antiwar potential effect of campaign in the near future. That is for you to decide. [applause] jade, thank you indeed in thank you 12 contributors to that excellent debate. The time has come for us to move on to the theater for debate in the last double take days before break for lunch. The Youth Parliament will consider the third motion of the day relating to marriage for all as printed on the order paper. To the promotion a call from the east of england, ms. Micaela philpott. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Every debate is not the question. The question is a good piece of paper decided to marriage. A question of and equality. I have this friend and her parents got together about 20 years now. One of them is great at cooking and awful at directions. The couple followed by cnn ryan arent allowed to get married. The official definition is formal union of a man and a woman, physically recognized by law which they become husbandandwife. But. But why todays society, and accepting society sisto richart between men and women . People have partnerships and are not allowed to be asserted as has been our wife and although marriage isnt for everyone, shouldnt it be something everyone can decide to . How could she feel if you couldnt bear the person you love . The first is not driven in 2001 in the last, argentina 2010. 10 countries in 11 years isnt that exciting. Love is the natural human emotion. Why should the of the person you love change anything . Why should we let authority to take her society can and cant get married . We as a society have a moral and social obligation to challenge abuse against gay people. Make nsr campaign were serious against discrimination. Its against the law to discriminate. Is there hypocrisy in our law . Last year alone over 65 of, gay and young women. One fifth of and people try to take their own life and 19 of the Community Felt discriminated against because of their sexuality. We need to Work Together to change this to your desk are some of you know fellow partnerships at the same legal benefits. Maybe, but its not about that. As the principle of being denied the right to a gay people to be equal. This is an issue important to young people, then why is it being debated here today . Young people not only want to marry who they want when theyre older, they want homosexuality to be accepted now. Others may say this infringes. However, research has shown 50 of people support samesex marriage either way. This campaign would respect or Understanding Society where everyone is equal. But this campaign, we can lobby rft. We can educate the public. We can create an understanding that change the attitude. As the scottish Youth Parliament approves the national Campaign Last year, we can make a difference. When im older, i want to send my children died so you know what . Financier h. Is for this Amazing Organization that led the way to make sure runflat to get married. Isnt it time we accepted it a marriage quacked [cheers and applause] thank you for that very strong opening speech. To oppose the motion, ipod from the southwest. Please welcome mr. Jack mathews. [applause] mr. Speaker, as someone who hasnt even had their first proper smoke yet [laughter] [applause] im not sure im entirely qualified to talk about marriage. But my inexperience in relationships is not the region the marriage law should not hear new National Campaign. As young people, wouldnt we support the relevant curriculum giving Vocational Training had a fair wage we get our first up . For better access to buses and trains to allow us to get to school and work . Id rather be wellinformed, well trained, well paid her welltraveled than well, married. And i am not alone. According to the office of national statistics, the number of under 20s getting married represents less than half a percent of all marriages in the sunday times in the annual number of marriages is at the lowest for over 100 years. Someone once said of the state temporary insanity. Without sounding too sappy, love doesnt need a cure. Love is about marriage. It is marriage that is immoral without love. Perhaps we should be focusing on reducing the uks high divorce rate rather than promoting marriage. The coalition for equal marriage is love is love regardless of gender. Well, i would add that love is love regardless of marital status. And while the majority of us, almost all of us absolutely believe in marriage for all his rate and yes, compared to some countries can bush legalize samesex marriage some years ago, i note that the u. K. Has been slow to act. If things are rapidly changing. The huge success of Civil Partnerships recognized commitment to samesex couples has been a capitalist for this change. David cameron has pledged to legalize samesex civil marriages by 2015. Abdallah before marriage will be introduced here in this chamber in a 10 minute speech. I accept this as a plot to talk about such an important issue, but its longer than ive got. Im at the parliament or a cynical access marriage, there is a danger that any campaign will be overtaken by the legal change we seek. I conclude we have three main priorities. Quality, quality, the National Campaign will not provide the equality we required. More importantly, more relevantly, where presently, ajit people seeking to make a positive contribution to society a fair access to education, employment and tranfour and indeed discrimination is the real challenge we face. Lets let them give us the opportunities they deserve. [applause] jack, thank you bring much indeed for the beach. I am looking for a contributor from the east midlands. Whoever thought . Please, welcome. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I agree with my fellow samesex marriage is an highly important issue and is widely spoken about as at present the case it would be one of our debates today. However, i feel it is a nonpowered young people can agree. Many kids in my constituency when i consorted them said yes it is the highest important topic. But when i went back to front of this county said they would want to see campaign. That shows that it was at the moment something being done about it. The mission of the government are saying in part of their manifestoes they want is to have been by 2015. I feel there is a more important issue in the debate last. They restarted their curriculum and now isnt the right time to look at samesex marriage. Thank you. [applause] food for thought for the east of england . Yes, gentlemen from east of of england. Thank you. I am part of a society that equal. As a matter if youre gay chemistry, man, woman, christian, muslim. However, theres a hurdle. It may just of them a safe language, but i believe passionately that the language is important. The weblog. If we want to encourage marriage to be important, which i believe it should, we need to have everyone regardless whether youre gay firstrate. Thank you. [applause] colleagues, my record show weve not yet heard from him and from yorkshire and humberside. That man is not itching to address them forward to hearing from you, sir. Leon cotler from North York Shire. We are facing the campaign, not the issue. Equal marriage is very topical minis. I wonder why. This is because during those of organization of bringing to the forefront. So i ask you then, do we follow the crowd . Re innovative for duplicate this . We are ukyp and we are unique and that is why you should vote for some canals. [applause] who have what god wanting to speak from london . Can i take a young woman there. Youre about to hop you were so enthusiastic. Surgeon of the. Everyone is the world and thats the way things should be. However, there is too many different controversies can gain this issue. Theres too many different more reasons and to many religious freedom but not everyone is going to agree on. Or not to debate about whats writer with strong. We have to debate on what is more important for young people, for us. Im not going to be getting married now because it doesnt concern me, but this debate is about the adult and thats what the adult and should be debating, not us. We are people are representing young people in a constituency. The quality of us with this motion is sent. Thank you. [applause] okay, who have we got from wales . Now, what about the women with the green dress. And alex hopkins. This is quite important, but more for the older generation because it concerns them. If you want to get married at 16, you can get a Civil Partnership. But is it really a main issue for us young people . How can that really extends to marriage . If we were older sitting here, it would be about the same issue, then yes the good. Thank you. [applause] weve still yet to hear from a man and a woman from Northern Ireland. Committee so . Norlin government. It is essential marriages in our u. K. Parliament of the manifesto appeared via . Because u. K. Youth parliament should stand up as a beacon for democracy. We should strive for quality of samesex marriages. Some of the medical system, but ultimately i believe in the 21st century members of the Lgbt Community should not be scared to be fair across the u. K. No matter where youre from, london, Northern Ireland, scotland. There is gay people. But wheres your brother, sister, friend, we need to represent the young people who battle with their orientation. Id u. K. Youth parliament, lets change society together and lets change it now. [applause] sewickley graduates to see from the West Midlands . Okay, thank you. Everyones talking about the generation and how they should be the ones talking about this, but were going to grow up. Will affect us in some way anyway. So if this possibility more accepted in nairobi last time and so teenagers will be happy knowing that they are older they are not going to be discriminated against because its expected and theyll be able to know theyre going to be able to marry and be who they want to be. So if you pass a, it will affect everyone really. [applause] what about the northeast of england . Hubley got from in the northeast . What about the gentlemen here . Thank you. Referred this is a very sensitive issue, but it initiate has to be addressed. Weve heard today we dont have people behind, transport was one of them. The posterity of Political Parties process with the opportunity. We need to nurture that opportunity. We need to go forward. We need to stand together in britain, a country that is a steep increase in across the world. We must stand together and take to change for tomorrow. We need to represent todays generation that will be tumorous generation of this getting married. Thank you. [applause] what about the northwest . Who gets here from the northwest . What about the young woman with the white jacket looking around. I am from roxio. I believe its an issue and it is quite extensive piece they appear you were to get married any dignified your house, how would you cope living on a wager fewer 16 to 18 . I mean, if it does being produced like the opposition says, should we introduce a new campaign . Thank you. [applause] okay, well take another speaker. But about this gentleman on the front bench below the game boy sp call it. Well, first of all sorry. [inaudible] okay, first of all, i along with them sure the majority of young people across the u. K. Believe everyone has the right to equal marriage. If two people want to express their love for each other, they should be able to do so in a way that they can. No matter what their sex. However, promised a million million unemployed young people, is equal marriage really the issue the parliament wants to campaign on . As was previously mentioned, only 0. 1 of u. K. Marriages take place below the age of 20. If we were to adopt this campaign, would be campaigning on an issue that affects the majority of adult, but very few young people. In addition to this, you can only get married after your 16th birthday. So if we adopted this motion, we would instantly be excluded on the 11th 15yearold in which we dutifully represent. [applause] and i myself is a 15yearold would find that incredible insult. So, if you believe in equal marriage, but you think there are more important issues to campaign on, such as our education, such as their future and such is our opportunities in the world of work and getting to school on time, please do not vote for this issue. Thank you. [applause] what about the east midlands . Who have we got from east midlands who wishes to contribute . Indeed. Natalie robinson from nottingham. I think gay marriage is such a crucial issue. In my constituency, a lot of people would agree with that. However, i think not so much of a National Issue should be made of this. People should focus on a regional level and i challenge my fellow ukyp members to go to their local areas and campaign against this. Thank you eric [applause] what about southeast . Who have wycoff in the southeast . You should easiest and from the southeast. Thank you. Graininess kate dublin from faulkner. Were trying to represent young people here and im starting to think this constituency doesnt think this would represent all young people. We are saying that people may not like it. So what does pass, people can still discriminate, even if its not nice camaro is going to get this people that are very heterosexual. So you should not pass this notion if you think people are going to accept it because at the end the day, not everyone is always going to be happy. [applause] fabric of a young man from wales . Yes, what about the chap sleeping there is to be with ponytail . Terry jackson. The quality. Can you please put your hands up if you believe in equality . How is that if two men want to get married go to a church agip refused, while two people who are street get married you quote . Thats all. [applause] thank you. Im trying to see if theres an underrepresented region. Every region has contributed so far. So the young woman with blond hair. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Emily carter. I believe marriage for all should be the main priority for next year. I believe it is important for our society to allow this to become reality. I have an incredible amount of people to communicate. The Uks Parliament tried to make me reach for a reality its an important thing for the people future. Young people want to marry whoever they want regardless of gender. This is key for the future in some you should be brought into the light to allow them to have a free choice. We are allowing marriage our change and hope she peoples lives. Ive been a priority to do exactly that. Why is it as a culture we are comfortable seeing two men holding guns than two Men Holding Hands . [applause] how big a young man from the West Midlands . Please. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Can i just first say your shoes have caught my eye. [laughter] i may be taking them back with me. Earlier this week, the youth cabinet organized a debate evening and wednesday this week and there were a few issues raised by support. Number one is the religion has totally for ben for gay people to get married. Second of all we have others who did mention earlier about equal opportunity that every person has the right to get married regardless of whether they are male or female. The last plane like to make it say what this young person who can say to to me they shouldnt have been voted for the make your mark ballot. Instead it should have been young people and the police, which is by far more important. Thank you. [applause] and im not just to say because they see a small number of people standing up who have spoken before and i welcome your csm, but in fairness to people who havent had a chance to speak, i need to be looking for those who have not spoken before the debate. The woman in the back row. Yes, it is you. I am representing. It is love, care and dedication between two people. If those two people know they love each other, is it unfair to say they need to have it written on paper and writing on paper for his love more important. There are other issues were important we are facing which need to be addressed. Please do not vote although i agree its a sensitive issue, it is not one that must be chosen. They must be looking at issues. Thank you. Pop back okay, what about this young man here. I am 13 myself. I do not believe that anybody my age could you start fresh with name and region. Sorry. Myself i would not like to be bombarded by saying you could be married, blah, blah. These are when youre older, 16, 17, 18. People are very sensitive and im not saying that gay, nothing like that. Nothing bad about that. When you want to be married, you dont need a piece of paper for love. Love is something you can enjoy with anybody. I love everybody here, youre all my friends, that sort of thing. You can love whoever you would like. [applause] it does not matter whether you have a piece of paper that says ball, blah, blah. It does not matter at all whether you married women or men. This way i would love you not to vote this is our issue for this year. Thank you. [applause] will put out . Were running out of time. Whoever got from london . Young woman in the patent top. Indeed. Shirleys members the Uks Parliament we should be fighting to concurrently say we do not discriminate when it comes to our definition of equality and who would toss. Thank you. [applause] will take a couple more. Let me see, whove we got quite certain that the young man at the back of the metal . [inaudible] we are all human beings and it shouldnt matter if you are street or something. It makes the young people and older generations listen and may improve that. Thank you. [applause] okay, this young man here. Spin that my name kate maas in the southeast. Weve all talked about how its an important issue for when we are older and im so pleased somebody has pointed out for a number of people where the future. We will be older soon, so it is an issue that affects us. Theres so much i can talk about on this topic, so im going to try and keep it quite short. We talked about the community. Might i point out the end of that comment the tea part, the often silent portion of what you want to call it. If a person is married before the legally change their gender to some of the biological sex unfairness of a partnership to summit of the same biological sex, they are required to legally dissolve their marriage or Civil Partnership before theyre allowed to change the gender. Can i just say how this is a perfect example why whether we call it a Civil Partnership. We dont want to exclude anybody. Were talking about equality. Why cant we think and include everybody and dont be about anyone in silence . [applause] im sorry, theres huge demand, blueprints that the overt. I really must now call to include the debate from Northern Ireland, mr. Jack mckeon. [cheers and applause] thank you for your kind words, mr. Speaker and of course its appreciated. Members of the parliament together collected over 250,000 ballot papers. [cheers and applause] marriage for all of the species from young people feel strongly about typepad and open, honest, frank and dignified debate here today and i think that is a tribute to young people about how we cannot decide or youth voice. Weve had loads and the law. Today, members have been saint equal marriage means equal rights for equal opportunities. Surely we must highlight the changes needed in the marital law in a truly inclusive society. Whether you are gay, not or should you have to enter a battle between your romance and the states. Ms. Morley report and that in britain today, inclusion has been left behind and racial and religious inclusion has come so far. However, members have rightly asked, could it be a Successful Campaign . Youth parliament have gone through the trial and tribulations of this process already, and i think we should commend him on not. [applause] also, the government by 2015 insure that is a pledge no party will want to break. Furthermore, the bill previously mentioned shows there will be a reality soon, so why cant aim for a full year next year when they can focus on the vital practical issues . Transport, education, work from the members parliament. Should we not try and entice young peoples lives in the depths of Economic Uncertainty and educational and people, we must contribute to the express solution of our problems. We cannot endanger the young people of today are becoming a generation of the past. I want you to think the National Campaign for next year. Are you an mip part to calida your virtue . Thank you. [cheers and applause] thank you indeed for that speech. That includes the morning session were sitting. The Youth Parliament will now adjourn until 1 30 p. M. And i invite all of you here present now to return to Westminster Hall for lunch. Thank you very much indeed. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conver please, take your seats. While i hope youre fortified by lunch at this afternoons preceding their as good as those are slowing economy will have done outstandingly wll. Order, order Previous Parliament will consider the fourth motion of today, relating to an equal National Minimum wage for all s. Printed on the order paper. To move the motion, i call from the east midlands, mr. Martin burnham. [cheers and applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. I have a friend in my constituency who works in a shop scking shelves on saturday. He gets paid three pounds 68 an hour. Yes theres also an over 21 who works in exactly the same shop getting paid six pounds 19 an hour. Bear in mind is the exactly same job. It fair . Is it equal . Is that right . Who are they to put a price on our equality . Who are they to tell people that because of the date of your birth you cannot away as much doing the same job as another person, an older person. Thats not fair. Thatsot equal. That is not right. I used to subscribe to the view that having an equal minimum wage for all, with hundreds of more young people being unemployed, but you know what . I was wrong. The European Commission found that increasing the minimum wage did not caught off job officers. It decreases the number of People Living in poverty and increases the wellbeing of the earner. That would be fairer. That would be equal and that would be right. There are 3. 5 million young People Living in poverty in this country. Thats 33 of young people. Thats nearly 100 of us here. These childn do not cause the current problems, and they do not deserve to suffer for it. The government tries to bring all 3. 5 million of them out of poverty by 2020. Having an equal National Minimum wage would help these children, give them that much more to support their families with. These are the ones who most deserve our help, and they do not deserve to suffer. As nyps, we can change this. We must support young people for the sake of those 3. 5 million. We must make it faire equal, and make this right. I urge you, my fellow nyps, remained the world we will be treated fairly and equally and we will be treated in a way which is right. Cast your vote for equal National Minimum wage for all. [cheers and applause] martin, thank you for that speech of proposition. To oppose the motion i call from yorkshire, mechesboo. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I never thought my live tv debut would be me trying to talk young people out of this. Looking back on it this morning we seem to be seeing a Good Campaign issue principlely, so voting yes for equal minimum wage should only be vot for at the moment we find that young people are being paid less than others doing the same job. Thats unfair. But what we also see are many other stances where young people are again being treated unfairly in the work place. We see youngsters with factory jobs not being paid on time, but finding their meche older colleague has. We see employees saying, were not going to give you a job without experience when, of course, you cant get experience with a job in the first place. What we see are the first status age discrimination. But if we think carefully about it. The unequal minimum wage is similar to the symptom of this wider problem. Does not go far enough to solve it. If we dont challenge this problem, it will keep reappearing in different ways. It will keep popping up like the facebook statuses, or depressing lyrics. So if you are not in favor of age discrimination, on principle, i suggest you dont vote for this Campaign Issue. Now im going to talk practically. The second problem with campaigning for equal minimum wage is that it assumes jobs, regardless of how meaningless are dull, or in abundance for young people. Only five of us can be in one direction, they just are not. Okay, i see that 62 billion people have got a job in the last quarter. But these figures are the result of wages not rising with inflation. What is actlly happening is employees are paid less to avoid being hugely in debt. If we make it even more unprofitable for companies to help then, mr. Speaker, they just wont have it. Theyll keep their profits. The minimum wage has broken britain. We are living in broke britain a vote for this will not get us any closer to 6pound 90 an hour or give anyone a living wage of 7pound 20 an hour either. What well get is a most depressing case that would have remained what have i told you today . I have told you to be practical and to be principled. You cant use the core message. So the main issue is in culture, and even if we wanted to, we are left with one option. Vote no to an equal minimum wage. [applause] thank you very much for that contribution. Have we got anyone wanting to speak from Northern Ireland . Yes, sir. My name is oliver. I am from belfast. I feel that we need to remember well, i feel i need to say two things about the minimum wage in proposing it. Firstly, it is so low that it actually acts as a disincentive for young people to work. This youth unemployment which stands at 20 andctually longtime unemployment because the work ethic isnt there in young people who perhaps wont work at minimum wage because the work wasnt there to begin with. It also discriminates unfairly against those from a lower socioeconomic background, as these people are more likely to work at a young age motion likely to work fulltime at a younger age and more likely to work at university trying to get themselves through, and being paid a lower wage in that respect. Because im so annoyed at this issue, i have started a petition to have the minimum wage raised which i would urge everyone to have a look at and would rather to be on the campaign because i feel its something we need to look at and something we can do to a reasonable level. [applause] thank you. Do we have anybody from wales . Who have we got from wales . The yog woman in the red jacket. Sorry . [inaudible] youve alrdy spoken. Very honest of you. [applause] thank you. My names is Matthew Ingram from wales. The vast majority of young people rely on their guardians or the state torovide them with a basic standard of living. Consequently, any money they bring in, is used to provide an income which can be used to buy things which arent necessary. A disposable income. If these things arent necessary, then why in a time of economic hardship, were basing the National Minimum wage could lead to the loss or jobs are pre we proposing this amount. Thank you. Id now like to call Holly Gibbons from the east midland. Holly, i think you have a lapel mic. Youre raring to go. Lets hear you. I dont think its fair that 16yearolds can do exactly the same j for exactly he same hours and this economic climate, yet they get paid less than an 18yearold or 21yearold. How is that fair . And if young people say we dont agree with it, then we can change it. [applause] thank you. Now, im told that the scottish delegate whom we have here is keen to speak in th debate, and should have the chance to do so. Please. Lori dawson from scotland. Races your raise your hand if you think obviously should be representing all of britain. Thank you. What is the representing youth at the second house . Scotland, i feel, has already represented most of the issues we have already tked about. Equal marriage. We have won awards on our campaign. We already have the curtain for life, petition transport, and we already have at least one work at an area of our union chose. What our campaign currently is called one fairage, an equal wage for all. My friend andrew writes, he trains people and because he is under 21, the people he trains make more money than him. Is that fair . If we did if we vote for this dish urge you to vote for this, because if we did this, it would be a stronger and fairer campaign, which is already on the road to success. [applause] thank you very much indeed. Who have we got from the southeast . Yes, this gentleman. Youve been trying a number of times. Your patience is rewarded, sir. Solomon, nyp for hastings. Thank you mr. Speaker. Over 100 years ago, gentleman stood at this spot, called benjamin disisrael, and its really important that when everybody talked about somebody being of a certain age and not earning the same as an older person, that we endorse that. I think its really important we support this notion but at the me time i dont understand why its a minimum wage and not a living wage. I think people should be earning enough for them to live. And people nyps talk about how it will damage our economy or job losses. No. What would damage our economy is giving 40,000 pounds to the richest people in the country, a cut in benefits for Single Parents and squeezing the lower middle income people in this country. So i thinkctually, a lot of people suffered in 1998 that the people threatened in 1998 that the manipulate wage would ruin our economy, and today its actually t strongest policy we have introdud in britain. Thank you very much indeed. Now, who have we got from the northwest . We have you are from the northwest . Yes. You are. Good. Just before you speak, i just spotd the entrance of the honorable member from wales. Thank you for coming to support the uk Youth Parliament. I am representing the northwest. At the age of 16 we have to pay full prices for books, clothes, and other services. So why are we expected to have a lower minimum wage than those of our adult coworkers . Yet were still expected to pay the same prices for things, despite what we have in our figures. What is the justification for us to what is the justification to pay us less . Why are we expected are we expected to work less . To be less productive . No, were not. Then young peoples minimum wage is discrimination. [applause] who have we got from the southwest of england . The southwest. The woman who is the second from the end. I. E. Slightly nearer me. You are looking around. From north so many areset southwest. Companies are out to make money. This is a fact. We know this. The truth is that Many Companies who see the young people they employ as a liability. For example, many young people who work in supermarkets come up in many young people under the age of 18 who work in any sort of environment cannot work for some types of heavy machinery. If we put this as our National Campaign for this year, its unrealistic to think we of the Youth Parliament can make such a great influence on government legislation which have such huge opposition from larger companies. Its not realistic we can make a change in one year so we should focus on something which we can change, which is bettering our criminal almost better rur curriculum. [applause] who wave we got from the West Midlands . You at the end. Thank you. Id like you all to raise your hands if you have an she gets paid five pounds. An older sister who is two years older gets paid seven pounds. How is that fair . Who have we got from london . The chap there with the white shirt. Yes, indeed, you, sir. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Im john from london. Id like to echo thether young people who said the minimum wage does create unemployment. It also creates unemployment for both Small Companies who cant afford to carry on the cost to their customers. However, the Big Companies can simply raise their prices and cover it. Now, do we want higher prices . How is that going to help poor people . [applause] who have we got from yorkshire . Yes, please. As time continues we need more and more things in life. For example, mortgage. If you want a mortgage you want to have a house or flathere you can live unless you can pay for it directly. How realistic is that . We need more and more as we grow up. We need me and more things. We progress in life, but the fact of the matter is, with an equal minimum wage when youre 16 compared to if you were 20, when you mild have a child and mit pay your first mortgage, how is it fair to limit them to that price because they have more things to pay for . Less thing to spend on luxury items. [applause] what about delegates from the northeast. The northeast. Right. Okay. Go. Well hear from you. This is 20 years ago the National Minimum wage was unrealistic, this seems unrealistic at this time put i believe welcome achieve this. I am a 21yearold. [applause] now, who have we got from the east midlands . The east midlands. My name is alex. I know all of you want equal minimum wage but id like equal minimum wage, too, but what happens about the tax, older generation pays over 18. Thank you. [applause] okay. Have we got who have we got from london . Anybody from london . Yes. Okay. This young man, apted the noble technique of waving at me, not with one wand but with two. First of all, thank youmr. Speaker, i represent the london. I ask you a question. Do we live in the United Kingdom . Yes. [laughter] no not a difficult question. But are we a United People . Unfortunately, no. We are divided by something we cant help, our age. We cant help when we were born. We didnt ask if we could bewo years older or maybe two years younr. So how is it fair that we have peop say to you, no, you cant earn more. Youve got to earn less because youre merely two years younger. So i believe that we should adopt this motion and we should use it a our national Campaign Next year. We will then be a United People, and together we can stand shouldertoshoulder and well be a united young people, united young people or united old people, rather, and a united tion. So, please, adopt this motion for next Years Campaign and support a National Minimum wage for allful thank you. [applause] okay, im looking at the balance again and i can do with a female speaker from yorkshire. Have we got sh . Yes. Thank you. Although i completely agree with what the main argument is, i would appreciate same minimum wage. I that one thing to consider is we represent young people from age 11 to 18, and i think we have to really consider whether that is the main and one of the most pressing issues that all young people, majority at least, face in their daytoday lives and i think it really is. Education or transport is something people face on a regular basis over that age range. [applause] from the east of england . This double handed technique. People in the gallery will notice it now taking off bigtime. Im 17. Theres someone who is 21. My name is ann marie and im from the east of england. I thought those clothes better than hers, and i saw those clothes with energy. And i get less . This is unfair. Unassetable theres a difference in minimum wage and not a difference in the skills of youth. The minimum wage is 21 years and older went up by 11p but for 16 to 18 it stayed the same. Is this snare this is up acceptable. This is a campaign, there needs to be a change. Thank you. [applause] who have we got from the northwest . The northwest. Massive troop of people from the northwes ha you all notpoken before . Okay. What about the guy at the end . Yes. Right at the end with the gra suit. Im daniel and im from the northwest. Minimum wage isnt the be all end all of wages. [inaudible] young people we dont have much experience, massive Unemployed People from all ages. Theyve got more advantage than. We have to pay [inaudible] we have to can useoo that to our advantage. Thank you. Okay. The young woman in the corner of the chamber. With flowers in her hair, leapt to her feet and has been striving regularly to contribute. Now you can be heard. Im from the southwest of england. We can clearly see this 16pound 6pound and 19 pounds is for 21 and over and that [inaudible] wontget to 96 if youre under the age of 21 but you pay tax under the age of 2 dont you . Where is that fair or right . [applause] have we got any men from the West Midlands . Men fro the West Midlands . No . Suddenly discovered theyre from the West Midlands. Please. Thank you. Equal and National Minimum wage is important because it is unfair that those young people who work as hard as they do, they get paid as children. So when they are working, theyre considered as and given their work load which is equivalent to another. But when theyre paid, theyre paid as children. This is not fair. Lets vote on this and in the future we can have adult becames. Adult wages. I believe there are three people from german faces who might be wishing to contribute. From german bases and id like one of them to do so. The young woman indeed. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My name is im from the awn germany. Discrimination is something which no one stow deserves. What is the equality when young person does note get paid as much as an adult. This treatmentes unjust. We as young people need to fight and stand up for our rights and demand that we introduce an equal National Minimum wage for all. [applause] okay, we are getting towards our end. I think weve got time for another speaker from wales or scotland. Wales . Who wishes to speak from wales. The gentleman there with curly hair. Yes. Ank you. Im ben hopkins. Im from argentine sou wales. Now, i understand that there are other issues we have been talking about today that some people perceive as even more important than the National Minimum wage. For example, education, employment, but i ask you, members of the Youth Parliament. What are we before employees . Before apprentices . We are people. We are human beings. We are all human beings. No matter what age, be we 18 or 38. Dont we all then deserve the same minimum wage . Because how can we solve problems that require how do we sort out problems to do with citizens of the uk. When we cant sort out issues that have to do wh human beings. Ank you very much. How about hearing from a woman from the southeast. Who have we got some you have tried several times. Please. From sou totingham, sir we look up in disgunfight and disbelief at discrimination. The u. S. After the civil war, racism. Britain in the 180000s, sexism. It wasnt until someone had the initiative to stand up and say, this is wrong, that discrimination was overcome the black Civil Rights Movement for my first example and the suffrage yet mement as my second. But were still discriminating. At the time, the phrase, equality for all its ridiculous with the age discrimination regarding minimum wage inrder to increase the quality in our democracy the manipulate wage needs to be standard figure for all. The thought that young people areelow their infear youre colleagues and less deserving of a higher wage is outdated, ewan equal. We need to fight for Civil Liberties for all young people, and with that comes minimum wage for all and for that reason it should be our National Campaign. [applause] thank you. Im sorry. We have to wind up the debate becaus we have reached our allotted time. I just want before i call to welcome the honorable gentlemen, colonel stewart, who entered the chamber at the back. [applause] bob, thank you for your support for the uk Youth Parliament. Now id like to ask to conclude the debate from scotland, mr. Reardon fortune toind up the debate. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. I would first like to extend my sympathies to the Scottish Parliament membe who cant be with here today. So here i am. We just heard fromsome fantastic points for and against but a few stand out in my mind. This is right that someone of our age, doing the exact same amount of work and the exact same profession can legally be paid substantially less than someone in their 30s . It is unacctable when its aged toward young people. Will minimum wage help young people or aravate youth unemployment. As we all know, 16 and 17yearoldsecve minimum wage. 18 and 17yearolds receive more and anyonever 21 receive more. Are we to take from this the government believes the 18 and 17yearolds to b less hard working or 16 and 17 years are less hard working. I should hope not. Its also cuttinged the more people are paid, less will take off work ask the harder they will work. Surely this can only benefit the economy. However after experiencing a doubledigit recession, is it ready for a minimum wage . Though we may care about our situation w bng more Financial Burdens for Small Businesses than they have seen many decades. So the question is, is this campaign viable . I say, yes. Its got the cheer Parliament Campaigning on this very issue, and it is about young and old alike. Many countries arell hugely supportive of this campaign. This, if nothing else, proves the scots are a bit this campaign could be very successful with we strike while the iron is hot. But making this our campaign are we not using this for our own . [inaudible] it is a tough decision but one we must be sure to get through. [applause] reardon, thank you for that very serious and respected wipedup. Much appreciated. Colleagues, we now need to move to the fifth and last motion to be considered today and it relates to are curriculum to prepare for life, as printed on the order papers. To move the motion, i call miss samaia terin. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Politics, relationships awareness, finances bills, sustainable living. What do they mean to you . If you know, thats great. If and you dt, why dont you know . Is its something to do with the fact its not part of the National Curriculum . Im sure you agree that britain has one of the fineest Education Systems in the world. The biggest hurdle is the end of our career. Then we become 16, 17, 18, and we enter the real world. We gain the right for the National Minimum wage, the right to legal right to vote at 18. We start socializing with people outside of the school and college gates. But when and how did we lrn the skills necessary to equip us for these important parts of our lives . People go through lots of questions. Qutions that need answers. Theres a guy in stockholm at the local cafe at lunchtime. Apparently starving himself. What does itean when i say im dating someone . What commitment. What impact did having a baby on my life . How die get through . What path and, most importantly, what is my favorite chocolate bar go from 15p, and now 17p. [applause] the questions that need answer. The guy is who srving himself isnt. The is observing the holy month of ramadan. And chocolate is probably more expensive now. There are Financial Education schemes available but not for the whole of the uk population. There are incentives but theyre only available for some and not for all. Theres some of the people in this country are fortunate to have access to political knowledge through their teaching bu again thats only some. If we live in the same country, we have the same rights, should we not have access to the same teaching . This needs to be the campaign for the uk Youth Parliament. It needs tbe a not our mothers or fathers or teachers or councils or lords or mps, its our future so we should be involved. The government this country has aged to the u. N. , when it will involve young people in making decisions that affect them and their lives. Ocber 2011, the a century ray raysurvey was conducted and the result shows 78 only young people feel theyve never been consulted. Thats only onefifth, justifies owe a fifth of people that have in a country that prides itself and promotes equal rights for all. This isnt right. The has been a Similar Campaign for this in the past. Sexual relationship, education, was nearly made compulsory and it was very nearly the law. Unfortunately due to the general elections it was dropped. We have done this once before, and we can do it again, but this time, we can make it a reality in schools and as a part of the National Curriculum, not a script to be followed but lessons to be learned for life. Thank you. [cheers and applause] thank you. For that speech of proposition. Got us off to a contributing start. Now to oppose the proposition, i call natasha brown. Thank you, mr. Speaker. A curriculum for life is not the moon this year. There are many life lessons to benefit from. For different generations. Sense of social duty, raise a family and manage our debt. The question is who should teach them . And our answer . Not teachers. The responsibility and privilege of providing theacts of life rest within our family, parents and communities. To help insurgent tour insurgent tour nurture us. We learn about life by living it. Not the teacher questioning us and talking about hypothetical situations in textbooks. I think this motion raises the assumes that a curriculum for life can be designed for somebody in westminster. I think it is the state outreaching its mandate. The motion is potentially danger and is not there to parent a child. [inaudible] wouldnt have a clue what i was talking about. The world is changing, and running this now would become outdated before it begins. A curriculum for life is a good idea in theory. But the Association Idea and central knowledge is extremely questionable. We need life lessons. More to produce confident, capable young people with the ability to cooperate with others. Needs to be local. Perhaps the current curriculum, told what to think and not how to thick. Do we really want the government to dictate and structure a guide for life . Some people suggest that a curriculum for life helps avoid risk, not make mistakes. But part of the beauty of life is the ability to make mistakes, and for communities to safeguard and protect us if and when we invariably do, surely getting it wrong is part of getting it right. We better youth groups, dropin centers and places where you can see specialists, get guidance. Im going to end on a quote. We should always begin by asking, what are we educating for . What sort of people are we expecting to produce . What sort of society do we envision. This is an extremely complex issue, not one that can be solved in a year. This is why aargue to oppose this motion. Thank you. [applause] just before we take thank you very much indeed for that speech of opposition. The next speaker, id like to welcome the alreadiable gentleman, the leader of the liberal demrats, now, i think into this 30th year in the house of commons. Please welcome, simon noone. Thank you for your support for the Youth Parliament. Im out in looking for a male speak are if possible from wales. Yes, the twohander himself. Mark from north wales. I want to just mention the fact that most of the issues debated here in the house today can fit under this curriculum for life. Without the knowledge how were supposed t try to strike change for these issues, like something im going to mention now is that we need to tackle the issue of bullying before we go and change the law on march 2nd. [applause] thank you. Now, colleagues, one category today that missed out a bit has been men from the east of england. There have been several women from the east of england. We havent had a male figure from the east of england. Well take this gentleman here. Indeed. Thank you. Alex from east of england. We in hop shire have consultation with our constituency and one of the big things that came out was the lack of provision in the curriculum for the rest of our lives. Nyps are forced to become exam factories where we get pushed into exam after exam after exam, we look from one modual and the next modual and the next modual. We dont focus on the things that matter in our live, the things we need when we get out of school. Its all well and good coming out without hesitation but if we cant do anything else in our life what good are we as actual human beings. The foundation of this motion is that, frankly, we are human beings, and we need the rest of our life. Not just the curriculum that is currently in place. This is why are urge all of you to please vote for a curriculum for all of our life. Who with hey got from yorkshire . The woman in black. Thank you. In the back r. Thank you. My name is emily and i am from north yorkshire. What i think we need to focus on when we are looking for a campaign i something that is going to help is achieve our amibition and our amibition is to give each and every person the opportunity to take ahold of those opportunities being provided to them and make sure they can get them for themselves. I think its really important we make sure everybody is given these skills. Now, as we heard, not everybody has the same family baground or the same kind of surrounding in the community they live in one thinge can agree on is a great Education System in this country and a way to reach out tovery single young person in this country and say, this is how you get the respect youre looking for, the opportunities youre looking for, the chance to be heard, the chance to make yourself heard in a way that is going mean that more people will listen and you support you. You can do that through the Education System, therefore a curriculum that prepares us for life is far better than any her method and should be our National Campaign. [applause] tha you for that very eloquent speech. Have we got a speaker from Northern Ireland . Yes, indeed. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. And my name is im from belfast in Northern Ireland. I kno that a curriculum for life is essential for young people in the uk. And i know this because i had the honor of taking part in the youth assembly, and the two recommendations that came out of that was an interfaith dialogue and a curriculum for life for all young people of the world. So as you can see this is not just a uk issue. Its an issue for all young people across the globe. So, let the uk Youth Parliament ld the way. Let young people lead the way because the decisions we make today with deal fine our lives. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Just before i look for a speaker from the northwest i want to welcome sir peter bottomly. The member of parliament from west thank you for your support of the Youth Parliament. Pplause] and his wife, have always been interested i youth issues and the concerns of young people and that is reflected again today and appreciate it. Okays, somebody from the northwest. Yes . The gentleman there waving with both hands. Indeed, you, sir. Yes. First of all, social cohesion, and before the riots, they were horrible. I dont think anybody what was the root of that . Social cohesion. Tension between people. We dont get along. This curriculum. We can learn to Work Together. Education is our future. Knowledge is power. We want power or want to be weak . Do you want to have knowledge or let light shine on what we are . [applause] what about the southwest. Who have we got from the southwest trying to speak . What about the guy right at the end who is now looking around with his left hand right there in the air. Wearing a read tie and now the only man standing. It is you, sir. Thank you, mr. Speaker im from the southwest. Firstly, id like to fully endorse what t member from the southeast said. I think the importance of giving a curriculum for life prepares young field for getting on in the world. I think this is important for when young people get to university and apply for jobs js and for when young people learn the basics to vote for tax and many other things. What creates the disparity in the terms of the skills young people have in order to succeed in the world. In my town the are two schools, one of them is a state cool and one is a private school. In the state school, there are four times as many people and we get alevel result from the private schools. The private school gets twice as Many University students and that is not fair, and i think something really needs needs toe done about this. [applause] trying to speak from the east midlands. Who have we got from theast midland . What about the woman in the corner of the chamber. Hank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Im alissa from east midland. Now, a curriculum for life, i intend to spend most of my life in work, and a curriculum for life would be a great achievement for us all and help us all in social areas and teenage pregnancy might go down. I have an experience of work, provided well spend most of our life doing. So surely isnt that one of the most important issues we can work on . [applause] what about a speaker we have not yet heard from, from london. Who have we got from london . Somebody who has not spoken before. You spoke with great force and eloquence but your very memorable. I remember your speech. You have definitely spoken. Im miya from london. I personally believe this is more of a regional matter than anything else. Like in my opinion, the constituency sunday that want to dwelling on this matter can do a as they please. It would be a good attempt to tack small indirect youth issues which ishat i feel we should be trying to do before tackling more, liker into mediate problems like wages. Meanwhile, this motion, unlike others we have explored today, is the most realistic of all our motions. The most realistic and most achievable. Within a years pass of time and funding although i feel this is the most realistic i maintain convinced this should become our national priority. Thank you. Okay. Have we got anybody from wal . Still trying to speak . Okay. What about the guy right at the end on the front bench . Thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My name is adam,. First off, i want to ask a conference on wednesday all about the topic. The people we sat around the table with directly told me that they wanted a this sort of topic would be controlled and best for everybody if it was a National Sentiment if everybody was to be learning the same thing. That way someone wont be learning one thing about sex educion and another might be learning about everything differently. I ask people for examples, only a third of the people in that room put up their hand and said they knew what it was. So, two lead persons who were opposing this motion, as ive said directly, i did speak to them and speak with my constiency and came back and said they would like it, the national priority, and they believe a, as you put is, guide for life would help people. We dont get born knowing exactly what things are, and its up to member to tell us how to do it. And if it was set out, the same thing for everybody, then i think there would be less problems in this society. Thank you. Okay. Weve not yet had a speaker from the northeast. Who have we got from the northeast . Im going to suggest that the woman at the back there with the black jacket and red dress. Yes. Mr. Speaker, im from newcastle. I want to highlight the support, and we want to introduce political education. Believe this would be a brilliant stepping stone to reach our goal, as is the argument of young people we have already seen. This would solve isss. Second of all i think education is something that affects every single you can person. T the minority, not the majority, but absolutely everybody in the uk. Who is waiting from yorkshire . This man looks as though he is about to explode if he doesnt get called and i dont want there to be an explosion in the chamber. [applause] thank you for your patience. We now look forward to hearing youve. Mr. Speaker. As the opposing said, its a guide. We all deserve a guide. Point you in the right direction. The state is not here to parent our children, the parents are. As people have said, its the beginning. We have five points here and members who couldnt quite make here today, spent hours deliberating, focusing, trying to find the most important points. An Education System that prepares you for life is the beginning, a lighting of a fuse that can start a boom of advancements and become a better old generation and replace with equally bright and wonderful wine. [applaus wt about let me see the southwest. Who have we got from the southwest . Yes. Okay. The woman with the black and white sirte the blacknd white dress who is waving at me. Im from the southwest. A curriculum for life, every person hits an age where theyre expected to take payments, mortgages, Household Bills and have money to provide for themselves. How can we do that . We do not have the time and not in the economic state to be able to do so. Therefore, we need to have advice,kills, until were able toelp lead the country from other people who made the same mistakes and a curriculum for life would be crucial for our generation to succeed. Thank you. Those remaining wanting to speak from the east midlands. The gentleman here waving his hand front the east midlands. I jus just like to follow on from what the nyp mentioned earlier about education prepares us for the rest of our years not Just Relationships and sex. Has anybody ever heard of stems . Raise your hand. Stands for science, technology, engineering and math, and the are the jobs which are going to be around in the future. Actual he the key jobs of the new jersey economy and we should allo to our local councils, our Partner Organizations, and were trying to incorporate the significance of stem within schools and colleges around the city, and i challenge every single Youth Parliament member here today to go away t your cities and councils and Partner Organizations and try to encourage them to incorporate the significance of stem Program Within your schools and colleges an come back next year and share with us what you found. Thse are the jobs of the knowledge economy. Now, im looking for a london woman. A london woman who has not spoken before. Have you spoken before . You did. I think it wouldnt be fair to others. I thought you had spoken earlier. This woman is going to fall off her seat and i want to see that. That would be a sadness. Im thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you. [applause] anybody here who knows today that i was desperate to pike about this . I was on bbc news and a woman told me i dnt deserve is because i im going to u that speakers on bbc so clearly she made no sense. [applause] [cheers and applause] reversely, i would just like to say im so happy that this is one of the top five issues. Education is the fuel of knowledge, and knowledge is power. So by taking a stand and a more Sustainable Education we are essentially empowering young people. What we know and who who we are today relies heavily on education. Many young people today are major untillized by the current Education System and completely shut off. Can you blame them if they cant see the light at the end of the tunnel . The Education System doesnt tell is why we need to use these put do multipliered. Doesnt make any sense. Young people are 100 of the future and so why are we not investing in what makes us who we are today . Doesnt make any sense. Decisionmakers, teachers and young people need to look at the Education System, and in order to salvage the skill that can be transferred into work and other forms of life, we need to reform the Education System, and we need to look at it because having an irrelevant Education System can no longer have it. Everyone in the London Region knows it. My dad calls and stresses to me how important education is, and it upsets me, when he was in school he hated it. He was depressed because the didnt understand why he would need these things so fell behind in lessons, wasnt keeping up. You look at the student and you think the my dad is an intelligent man but he didnt know how to u these things. He was being taught put didnt know why. And now he is a developer and one of the leading studios, works with beyonce and cold play. [applause] but the struggles he had to go through to get was tough, and we need to cut that out. We need an Education System that is concise and to the point so young people know how to use the skills theyre going to learn today. Thank you. [applause] im really sorry. This is the worst part of the day from all of our pnts of view but all good things have to come to an end. Id le to have everyone but we simply dont have time. Happens every day in the chamber. Thank you for coming. I have to call the windup speech because we have to stick to time but more words will be said in due course about the significance and sheer quality of this series of debates. I applaud each and every one of you, but i must ask now to conclude the debates from the northwest, please give a huge uk Youth Parliament welcome to miss jessica kolestrom. [cheers and applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Young people leave school unprepared in several areas, from politics to culture diversity, finances and sexual relationships. Young people deserve better. We need to know about these issues to be prepared for adult life. But how do we make this a reality . Do we want these life skills developed in school . Some of you have questioned whether this is the parents responsibility instead. Many more of you may have recalled frankly inadequate citizenship education. These lessons can seem irrelevant. Most young people are decades off getting on the housing. In other cases education on these topics cannot reflect young peoples different needs. Take less than 15yearolds. For some it may well be useful. But for others its embarrassing, pointless, or could come too late. Our Education System is driven by exam results which are essential for your future careers. Use woo young People Choose to study life skill tet expense of academic subjects . Representative for the young people in each of our areas. Is it actually something they would want or something we think they need . And honestly, we have heard the right now young people having to carry what school youre at determines what life skills, if any, youre taught. Too many young people are left behind. A National Curriculum means it would be taught in every school and reach the greatest numbe of young people. So lets ask ourselves, is this a Realistic Campaign for the coming year . If we pick this campaign there would be challenges. The trend in education currently is a greater freedom for schools and a smaller National Curriculum. Psag citizenship, and covers many life skills, has been dropped. Despite this, some would argue this is the ideal time to launch this campaign, as we are looking at the biggest changes to education in a generation [applause] the whole School System is rearranged, the spire exam system overhauledful this is a small change in comparison. If we chose to campaign on this issue we could transform the lives of every young person in the country. We cannot ignore the real world issues as politics, cultural diversity, finances, and sexual relationships, but we can demand an education which leaves us informed on these issues, prepared on these issues, and heard on these issues. This this campaign is all or noing. Either we will end with an effective education for life or the issue will by swept under the carpet. Are we willing to risk it . [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] jessica, thank you for wrapping up the debate in such style. That concludes the debates for today. We now need to be clear about the next step for the remainder of our proceedings. The Youth Parliament will now divide to vote on which of the five subjects debated today to select as its National Campaign issues. Those of you on my right, my right, should leave the chamber by the door behind me. And turn left into the lobby behind you. Those on my left should leave by the doors at the far end and turn left into the no lobby behind you. That way. Out theack, into the left in the lobby you will be given ballot papers with the five debates on separate colored papers. Youhould place a cross in the box next to the sum youd like to vote for on the ballot paper and hand the completed ballot papers to the doorkeepers in the lobbies. Afterwards, please return to your pla in the chamber. Members of house of commons staff will be on hand to assist you. The Division Lobbies are now open. [inaudible conversations] order. Order. I now have the results of the votes. Ooh [applause] now, in a spirit of transparency, i shall read out the figures. Public transport, 23 votes. [applause] getting ready for work. 46 votes. [applause] marriage for all. 22 votes. [applause] and equal National Minimum wage for all, 50 votes. [applause] a curriculum to prepare us for life. 1 [cheers and applause] as someone used to say, ive started so ill finish 154 votes. And you might be interested, colleagues, to know the totals include text votes from those who, on account of weather, were unable to attend today. [cheers and applause] i think its been a fantastic day. I begin, if i may, by asking you two questions. Have you enjoyed it . Yes did you think did you think it was worthwhile . Yes are you agreed that the uk Youth Parliament should carry on doing it . [cheers and applause] well, i think ive got my answer. Ive heard it. My colleagues in the house will have heard and it the outside world will have heard it, too. Im absolutely delighted by todays proceedings, and let me just say for the benefit of those who have not been before, what i said to the debate leads at the start of the day, train entered the speakers house with the leader of the house, and the childrens minister, so far as im concerned its not just a matter of dutiy. It is my duty to be here to welcome you, to chair our proceedings, in the house of commons, whose servant i am, has judged rightly in my view, you should come here each year to debate your issues, and the speaker, frankly, should therefore be present. I played a very simple view because i dont think its a very complicated matter, that if my parliamentary colleagues and i want to be respected by young people, we should show our respect for young people. Respect is a twoway street. [cheers and applause] the second reason why im so delighted to be here and that you have had such a good day, is that aside from the question of duty and protocol, and my obligations to the house, this is a matter in my heart as well as in my head. Its something i feel passionately about. I voted as a back bencher at the time. Yes to the proposition that the uk Youth Parliament should be able to meet and debate its issues, and i believe passionately in the merits, the contributions, and the future of the uk Youth Parliament and thats why, in addition to feeling suffused with pride and excitement at chairing the proceedings of the parliament here in the chamber each year, i make it my business to go to your annual general meeting as well each year. I will keep coming if im asked. I dont wish to visit if im not welcomed, but if i keep being invited i would always regard it as a priority to ensure its in my diary that i am present wherever in the uk your annual general meeting takes place. I didnt ask this to be checked before but if memory serves me correctly in 2009, the annual general meeting was in canterbury, in 2010 it was in ulster. I think last year it was in leeds. And i attended in july of this year, and i was the mag enough sense of the occasion that the geography slipped my mind dish nottingham, and nottingham is a very, very important part of the east midlands. We must not forget nottingham. I promise never again to forget it was in nottingham. [applause] and i hope that the two members who are still here, and thank you for staying as long as you have, and angela what who was with us and spoke with passion as well as andrew and ed earlier, will agree that the quality of the debate really was very, very, very striking. I guess its inevitable that the more often you meet, the more committed the parliament becomes, the greater level of interest, the more research, the stronger the contributions, the more passionate the speeches, and today i really did think it was very impressive performance, and you have chosen your subject, not us, chosen by you to be power premiere Campaign Issue of the year. I want in drawing the proceedings to a close, to say a huge thank you to all who have facilitated todays proceedings. The British Youth Council deserves thanks and appreciation for everything they do in support. [applause] of the uk Youth Parliament, and i am deliberately not naming names. There were a lot of people involved and they know who they are and theyve done a fantastic job and we thank them. Within the house of commons there are huge numbers of people who have been involved. The sergeant at arms has played a lead role. The head of equality has played a key role. The principle door keeper and his team have played a key role. And there have been a fantastic team, i hope you will agree, of clerks at the tables, helping me to help you, and one of the features of this year, im sure they wont mind my pointing out is that ive developed a scheme recently to give greater opportunities for the middle ranking clerks, the stars of the service, to serve at the table in the chamber in front of me. People who might otherwise be five or even ten years off service at the table, which is traditionally been for only the very most senior class, and the very most senior clerks are, if i might politely say heavily male dominated but today we have heat lots of women, and they all, men and women, have done a fantastic job advising me. [applause] ive also been assist it by my secretary, peter baris, and by ian on my left here. They have done great jobs here. So thank you everyone. I want the last word or words to go to the childrens minister. And i dont want to embarrass him but ive known edward since he came into the house in 2008, and this is a man who is passionate about youth, about engagement, about the interests of children and young people. Its written into this dna, not just as a politic but as a human being. His whole family have got a track record on issues of caring, on fostering, helping very e very disadvantaged young people, and i was personally thrilled to bit ford edward when he got the job as childrens minister. It really is an absolutely obvious fit. So, colleagues, members of the Youth Parliament, from wherever you come, whenever your political views, whether you have a Party Affiliation or not, whatever it is, please give a Youth Parliament welcome to edward. [cheers and applause] well, mr. Speaker, thank you very much for that very warm welcome. And i suppose its really to follow that. There have been a recount, so i think we need to move on and think about what this debate has achieved for everybody here, including myself, and my other colleagues who have taken the opportunity to hear and listen to much of the fantastic and excellent words that have ben spoken. Thank the leader of the house and also his opposite number, sincere words of support for the uk Youth Parliament. Membered of the Youth Parliament. I have two confessions. Confession number one. This is the first time that ive seen uk Youth Parliament in action. But i have to say, it has been a hugely humbling experience, and i have to say also left me feeling a little inadequate. Because you cant fail to be impress bid the quality of debate here today. We witnessed honesty, frankness, and dignity, displayed in caller and deeply knowledgeable speeches. There were a real testament to the talent of young people here and elsewhere in our country. We felt a little love. In the chamber today. We have seen better fashion on display. We have been told to take a good look in the mirror at ourselves, also had a rallying call to work for Something Else which will not be a slogan of my next election campaign. [applause] mr. Speaker, we have had energy, eloquence, passion, in abundance, so i want to pay tribute to all of you who have taken part in todays debates. We even have booms and almost have explosions. Metaphorically speaking, of course, i dont want to get myself into trouble. So where l you contributed in relations to the debate on transport, marriage, education, employment, or the curriculum, you tested and you have challenged my values, my views, and all of those around you. Now, mr. Speak are, i said i had another confession. As a teenager, unlike many in the chamber today, was fascinated by politics. So much so that i proudly produced my very own pac of top trump cards. Which i called, oddly enough, the house of cards. [applause] youve not seen it. On the cards i was rating mps by the size of the majority, their speaking ability and, yes, their looks. Sadly, mr. Speaker, neither of you were featured. That was before your parliamentary days. But despite my best efforts, the patent to market them, i still have every single pack at home to this day. Ah 80 bucks. I thick they might be on ebay tomorrow. But little did i know that small park of political enthusiasm and interest would end up 20 years later with me taking my seat on these green benches. But members of the Youth Parliament, youve made it quicker than i have. And i hope the short but significant time you spent here today, and i guess what we could call the real jungle, has not put you off wanting to take your interest in politics a step, possibly many steps, further. Now, i know my predecessor, who has been here today, and was and is a huge supporter of the Youth Parliament and its work under the British Youth Council, wants to continue with that commit, and i join him in doing that. Because we both want to make sure that the voices of young people are truly heard in shaping the decisions and services that affect our lives. Now, its almost a year since the publication of politics of youth. The first crossgovernment strategy for young people. And it was developed with and for young people. Its a vision that brings together in one place everything were doing to support young people, age 13 to 19, especially those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable. And you in the Youth Parliament have been some of its most passionate champions and are playing a really Important Role in making positive for youth a reality. And the challenge now is to imbed its vision in all that we do across government. And ill be marking the strategy of the oneyear on from post with a series of visits and by publishing an appraisal what we have achieved so far and we can build on the good work by highlighting it and making further progress that involves young people in decisionmaking, and it has to be said the British Youth Council has set the pace admirably, reflected be the huge number of young people we heard from today, quarter million young people who voted in the campaign to select the issues debated here today and congratulations to the campaign that won on very close fight but nonetheless won handsomely. So im pleased to announce well be continuing to fund the work for the British Youth Council for the next two years to help sustain the fantastic work of the Youth Parliament, and provide support for the uk k ambassadors program. [cheers and applause] i think there can be no better sign of how seriously the government is taking the issue of youth democracy than for young people to be on those forums where they can question and influence key decisionmakers, including my myself, and if todays level of debate is nothing go by i have a expectation that input will have an impact and i know the department of transport will be making a response to the report in january and will we taking it seriously because its an excellent report. Mr. Speaker, sadly, we know young people are still all too easily demonized and written off in our society. But i would challenge anyone present here today, or watching from elsewhere, not to leave feeling seriously impressed and optimistic about young people and the contribution theyre making to our society and to our future. I feel a new pack of top trumps on the horizon. [cheers and applause] edward, thank you for your presence, all you have done, for what you are doing and what you said to us today, which will remain in peoples mines im sure for a long time to come. I was teasing you. I was teasing you just a tad when i said that edward had the last word, because the very last words to be heard in this chamber today are to come from a representative of the southwest of england, please give a last welcome to charlie finch. [cheers and applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. It would be a privilege to see once again U Ks Parliament making history by debate hearing in the house of commons. Every one. Is it privileged to sit on the green benches and speak out in behalf of young people. Every Single Person has passion and energy, showing once again we as young people do care about society as we have to change the nation so well done. And progress has taken place behind the scenes, making this event possible. I feel i can speak for us all when i say we have had a truly amazing day and will be an experience we will never forget. Thank you for all your hard work. [applause] theres a reason that were here today. So i think needs to be said to every one of you. However, special thank you and well done needs to be said to those who werent able to be here today but worked hard in their areas to make sure young peoples voices were heard. [applause] our attendance today would not be possible without or coordinators who brought it heres today and it continue to support us in our roles in the Youth Parliament as we carry out local projects. I say thanks to a fantastic group that ensures the Parliament Event will be around, no matter how big or small the problem is. They understand how important the Youth Parliament is to young people around the uk. Thank you. [applause] to the byc staff, and everything they have done, if not for them we wouldnt have these parliaments. The commons staff for their great hospitality. And special thanks to you, mr. Speaker, for this amazing day that i will remember for the rest of my life. [cheers and applause] and finally, id like to thank a quarter million young people who voted on our ballots. Together we have demonstrated the future is important for young people and our voice is important and one that should be heard. Thank you. [cheers and applause] order. Order. [cheers and applause] today on washington journal we are joined by fix the that campaign the did and the robinson, council on foreign relations. Live at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on c span. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton was admitted to a New York Hospital on sunday. According to the state department, doctors discovered a blood clot stemming from the concussion he sustained several weeks ago. She is being treated with an anticoagulant and doctors will continue to monitor her condition to see which ferc whether for the treatment is needed. Coming up on cspan, members of Congress Talk about negotiations surrounding the fiscal cliff. Senate majority leader harry reid, speeches on the senate floor from california democrat Barbara Boxer, West Virginia senator joe mansion, texas republican Kay Bailey Hutchison and then caucus leaders speak to reporters. R is recognized. Mr. Reid thank you very much, mr. President. I was really gratified to hear the republicans have taken their demand for Social Security benefit cuts off the table. The truth ishey should never have been on the table to begin with. There is still significant distance between the two sides, but negotiations continue. There is still time left to reach an agreement, and we intend to continue negotiations. I ask unanimous consent that the senate now proceed to a period of morning business for debate only with senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection, so ordered. Reid mr. President , were going to come in at 11 00 a. M. Tomorrow morning. Well have further announcements perhaps at 11 00 in the morning. I certainly hope now california democrat Barbara Boxer to give a speech about the fiscal cliff from the floor of the u. S. Senate. Here, sit here, watch whats happening, we know that there are negotiations going on to avert at least part of the fiscal cliff. And i want to say, and ive said this privately but ill say it publicly, that i really hope our leaders can find a way out of this. I watched the president speak today and i thought as usual, he is very fair in what he said, mr. President. What he basically said is, its the middle class that grows this economy, its the middle class that needs to be lifted up, its the middle class that cant afford tax hikes, and those at the very top can do just a little bit more. Ates very simple point. And i just would hope, given that everyone says theyre for the middle class i know my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say that every day, th they agree with that. That finding this compromise will not be elusive but will come to pass. You know, i have been here for a while, and my understanding is we havent met between christmas and new years sin 1962. So it does take a crisis, of major proportion, to make that happen. And i think we are in a crisis right now. But its a selfmade one, mr. President. Its a selfimposed one. Its like the crisis we had on the debt ceiling. Selfimposed. Its not some god forbid exterior attack on our country, which we couldnt prevent. Its not some god forbid plae or a terribl virus that is running across the land. Its, to me, something that is not that complicated, as the president said. We had a series of tax cuts that are expiring. If we let them expire, it means there will be a huge tax cut, mostly hitting the middle class and the working poor. And the upper incomes, the people in that category have done so well that even they say they would have to talk to their accountant before they even knew there was any impact on their tax bill. So we can come together now, the president s favored limit would be 250 thiewts meaning 250 thoots, meaning 250,000, everybody up to 250,000 gets a tax break, 100 of the people. Those with higher incomes would go back to the tax rates that prevailed when bill clinton was president. Why the other side, you know, is horrified by that is perplexing to me. Because i look back at the clint era, i was here. Thats a long time ago. I was here. I came to the senate. With senator feinstein when bill clinton was president and he faced similar issues in that we had a deficit that was getting out of control, a debt that was getting out of control. We needed to have growth, and so he put forward a plan, a budget plan that invested in our people, invested in the infrastructure, invested in education, and at the same time said we can find cuts in other areas and we can raise taxes on those who are doing veryell. And what happed with that fair and balanced approach . What happened was the greatest prosperity in modern history. 23 million jobs, no more deficits, we got to a balanced budget and i remember saying to my husband my goodness, whats going to hpen . There wont be any more u. S. Government bonds because were going to be out of the debt situation. We saw we saw it on the horizon when george w. Bush became president , he decided to go back, backwards on rates across the board from the wealthiest to the middle to the poor, and he put two wars on a credit card and we are where we are where we are. And to add to this history, we all know that were coming out of the worst recession since the great depression. It has been difficult, led by, unfortunately, some unscrupulous people on wall street who created a nightmare in the housing market. I remember saying to treasury secretary paulsen can you explain the rule of derivatives here and what happened and how we got into this crisis . And he put his head in his hands, mr. President , and he said not now. Ill talk to you later. Now, thats not a very encouraging thing when the secretary of the treasury puts his head in his hands and says i cant explain it now. So were coming out of this difficult time, and guess what were doing much better. We had an election, i was pretty clear, peopl want to see us reach a balance here. So as i stand here, i know that there are negotiations going on in the rooms surrounding us. And i wish for the best. I hope for the best and i ask for the best. And there is a word called compromise. And it doesnt mean you compromise your principles but it means you can compromise because thats what the American People want us to do. Yes, they do. And i want to give you an example. If you were out hiking and you saw and, mr. President , your state, there are a lot of hikers and you saw someone stuck on a cliff, trapped, swinging from a reason, and you knew the only way to save the person was to cut the reason, but youre standing with someone else and you say cut the reason at the top, and he says, well, cut the reason at the btom, and you stand there arguing. Meanwhile, the man is struggling on this cliff. Let me down. Wouldnt the smart thing to do, wouldnt it be smart to cut the reason in the middle . And save the guy. You can argue later should i have cut the reason at the top or the bottom. No, cut it in the middle, save the man. Thats a pretty simplistic example of where we are. But i have the privilege of knowing that we can get it don when we Work Together. I was so proud to bring to the senate a highway bl, a transportation bill. Millions of jobs were at stake. Our states were worried ty would stop getting their highway funds. We wld have had to stop road projects in the middle, wouldnt have had funding for transportation, for transit. But you know what happened . Senator inhofe and i sat in a room, you couldnt find two people more diverse in our thinking, he a conservative republican, i a progressive liberal democrat and we sat in a room and he said i want this, this, and this. And i said i want that, that, and that. And then we said lets make a deal here. Lets meet in the middle here. And we did it. Much to everyones surprise. And that bill passed the senate. When it got to the house it got stuck, so senator inhofe and i and senator reid went over to meet with john boehner and chairman mica and we all agreed wed get it done. Neither side got everything they want and anyone who takes that position in my opinion is not putting country fst. I dont care whether they are republican, a democrat, or anything else. We are not each of us going to get everything we want. Lord knows. Theres a lot i could do if i had a wand and could make it happen. But everybody has a different view of exactly how to go forward and i think were being tested here. So i know its tough going, and i know if we dont get a deal, it doesnt stop there, well keep on working. But there is no reason on this beautiful godsreen earth why we cant get a deal here. If everyone is sincere in saying they want the middle class could be protected, we can get a deal here. President obama says 250,000 is the line, maybe i think 350,000 is the line, maybe someone else 500,000, maybe somebody else 150,000. We can meet somewhere and cut that reason somewhere in the middle. And save this country from t uncertainty, the uncertainty that plagues us right now. In the olden days and i say olden, a long time ago i was a stock stockbroker. I was an economics major and a stockbroker on wall street. The thing wall street and investors can take is uncertainty. If they know taxes are going up, theyll refigure things. If they know taxes are going down, theyll refigure things. If they know taxes are staying things, theyll figure it out. But right now theyre frozen. Because they dont know. And families are also in many ways frozen. They dont know whether they have to budt so that theyll have 200 2,000 less next year. They dont know whether it will be 4,000. They dont know if its ever going to change. And the uncertainty is is the fault of leaders who cannot get together. So i think it is critical that we get a deal. I hope its in the next couple of hours because to me you know, somebody asked me, some reporter, well, whats the difference if you get it now or fiveays from now . I say the difference is this uncertainty, this pall. And an unneeded escalating crisis. Because then you say, well, we dont have to do it now, well do it on the 4th. Ll, we dont have to do it on the 4th, well do it on the 10th. Get it done. America wants uso get it done. The president has shown he is willing to be flexible. Hes come out with some ideas that i have to swallow very, very hard on to to accept. He is willing. I know how personally strongly he feels that 250,000 should be where we draw the line in terms of tax breaks, but he was willing to offer 400,000. He was willing to look at changing some of our programs. Very tough for him to do. But hes willing to do it, even though he ran on his program and won by millions of votes on his program. So i the president an be flexible and say, okay, ill step back from everything i really want to do and move in the direction of the republica republicans, then the republicans need to move in our direction. And i think were going to be judged by whether we are going to be stuck in the mud because we just dont have the courage to to change or whether we step forward at this moment. And i think it should be this moment. And if we cant get it done, i certainly hope well have an upordownoton the president s plan which i feel was very, very fair. The president offered a plan that was fair. Do i like everything about it . Absolutely not. But he showed that he is willing to take those steps. And i would hate to think that our colleagues would filibuster that and demand a 60vote threshold as we go over this cliff. So the American People are hanging from the cliff and we can let them down real gently today and solve this problem. But if all we do is stand up and and stay in our corners, im very fearful that the message is that we dont know how to meet each other halfway, and that is not a good thing. And voters are going to turn on those people who stand in their corners and dont move. That is not the role of legislators. And ill close with this. We have a a different form of government than they have in europe. This is not a parliamentary system. If youre in a parliamentary system, one government rules everything. Its one party rules everythingmeneverything. You hav. You have the speaker the equivalent of the speaker and the leader all in one party. And then you dont compromise, you put that out there and you get your program through. If theres a lack of confidence, the people can change parties. The next party comes in and does what it wants. That is not what we do here. Sometimes i wish it was the form of government we had because at least there would beome action and you would know what to expect and you wouldntave this uncertainty. Because each party has its dreams, its hopes, its plans. And they would have the chance to get those policies through. We dont have that here. Have to meet each other halfway. Because the house is run by the republicans and it will be next time. The senate is run by the democrats but it is not a supermajority. We have to deal with our colleagues. The house the preside is a democrat. We have to Work Together. Thats the name of the game. And if we can do it on the highway bill, if if i could do it with jim inhofe, if debbie abenow can do it with pat roberts on the farm bill, i know and there are other examples i could give. I could give examples of senator feinstein with her republican counterpart. I could give many examples on the appropriations committee. We know we can do this. We just have to take a deep breath and put our ego as side for this countrys sake and make those compromise that allow us to still stand tall. Now, im only five feet so thats har but you get the point. We can do this and we should do it now. And if we dont do it now, we should vote on the president s plan because the people of this country deserve better than to be left hanging on a cliff. They dont deserve that. Its not right. Thank you very much. I yield the floor. The measure would phase it in for three years and allow the office of management and budget to pick which programs would be cut rather than the acrossthe board cuts, sequestration. Diligent work. They have committed themselves to this work and i appreciate it and they keep us all informed. Mr. President , i rise today frustrated, embarrassed and angry. It is absolutely inexcusable that all of us find ourselves in this place at this time, standing on the floor of the senate in front of the American People hours before we plunge off the fiscal cliff. With no pla and no apparent hope. Butere we are and we have got to do something. If were as determined to go over the cliff as we seem, weve got to do something to soften the landing because at the bottom of the fiscal cliff, our our are immediate and massive tax increases, deep and indiscriminate spending cuts and the risk of another recession. So as we come down on the final hours, we have two choices to do nothing and cause an unbelievable amount of hardship for our fellow americans or to do something to reduce the suffering inflicted on our citizens by an inflexible political system. Mr. President , i choose to do something, so today im introducing the calm act which stands for the cliff alleviation at the last minute act. The calm act will do three important things. It will soften the financial blow of the fiscal cliff. It will calm our Financial Markets. It gives us the ctainty of a plan nowut allows us if we ever find the courage to pursue the fiscal grand bargain that has eluded us so far. Make no mistake, the Financial Markets are watching us, and theyre getting more nervous by the hour. We need to reassure them that we are capable of making big financial decisions. This bill, the calm act, is not something that im excited about or proud to offer. This is not a great plan, but its merely a better plan than going over the cliff. It should never have come to this. We have known for more than a year that this day was coming. For more than a year, i have asked congress for a big fix to our nations fiscal challenges. I pushed strongly for the simpsonbowles framework for deficit reduction, and yet here we are no closer to a sensible decision onow to bring our 1. 1 trillion budget deficit and our 16. 1 trillion public debt under control. Well, guess what . Times up. No more games, no more excuses, no more ceking the can down the road. We have to act and we have to act in a way that puts our fiscal house in order, reassures the financi markets and puts the people ahead of politics, and we have to deal with these tax increases and spending cuts in a humane and tolerable way. The calm act does all of that. Look what happens to people in need if we go over the cliff and just do nothing. On new years day, the lowest income tax rate will jump from 10 back to the clintonera rate of 15 . Thats a pretty big financial bite for people in West Virginia and i know in ohio, too, sir. These are people that are struggling right now. Instead ofnvernight tax hike of 5 , the calm act smooths the transition by phasing in increases over three years. So instead of a 5 increase, the 10 bracket would only go to 1 1. 6 the first year. The calm act does the same with the other tax rate tax rates phm in over three years. But the calm act also puts the senate on record in support of comprehensive overhaul of o tax system. We can still work towards a big fix like the simpsonbowles framewk and if we can do that next year, we could stop the full increase from ever occurring. Another important feature of the calm act is the way it treats sequestration. Again, if we go over the cliff and do nothing, nearly every Government Program will be hit with the same percentage cut, and that includes social services, education, research and infrastructure, all of the things that we need to grow our fragile economy. The calm act gives the office of management and budget discretion and flexibility to recommend what programs and what agencies and accounts to cut. If o. M. B. Fails to do the job, then the sequestration acrosstheboard cuts kick back n of course the final word rests right here with us in congress. O. M. B. s decision with be overridden by a joint resolution. Every provision of the calm act is familiar to the senate. In fact, at one time or another, nearly every feature of this plan has been offered by both republicans and democrats, including president obama and speaker boehner. All ive done is pull them together to offer them has a compassionate alternative to what happens if we go over the fiscal cliff. True, from the very beginning i have favored a comprehensive solution to put our fiscal house in orderings something along the lines of the simpsonbowles. We dont have that luxury right now. But perhaps it will only soften the blow of the fiscal cliff but also give us a sense of urgency about a grand bargain to repair our financial house. I am not so naive aso believe everybody is going to check their politics at the door, even at this late hour, but this is not a time for politicking, bicking or partisan games. To allow the country to plunge over the fiscal cliff without any alternative plans to soften the landings completely unacceptable. I cant think of anything more irresponsible than to let this great country go over the fiscal cliff, to play games with the lives of americans in such a callous way, to jeopardize the financial standing of our country and to alarm our financial narcotics ways that could trigger another recession. Something has gone terribly wrong when the biggest threat to the American Economy is the american congress. I repeat, sir, something has gone terribly wrong when the biggest threat to our American Economy is our american congress. It doesnt have to be that way. Im putting something on the i believe that is fair and banced. It includes a slow phasein of the tax increases that are going to happen inevitably if we go over the cliff. It includes a slow phase ofll the increases and includes targeted spending decreases, and it moves us closer to tax reforms. Everybody helps and we do it in a way that keeps our country strong and prosperous. This is one of those moments that the senate was intended to live up to, to provide leadership, to find Common Ground, to level with the American People, and to be honest with each other. With our debt continuing to soar and too Many Americans still looking for jobs, these are times that demand the very best ofhis senate. Everywhere in West Virginia, and, in fact, all over this country, families are making tough choices about how to make ends meet. Its time for us in washington to do the same. Here in the senate, it seems to me that were always fighting about something. That might not change any time soon, but more often than not, i believe that we can raise tohe Common Ground of Great National rpose and i believe with all of my heart that this is one of those times. Thank you, mr. President. And i yiel now, texas republican Kay Bailey Hutchison on the senate floor about the lack of a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. Mrs. Hutchison mr. President , we are here just hours before a looming deadline that is going to affect just about every american in some way, and i do believe that both sides of the aisle and both sides of the rotunda want to come to a conclusion that will keep us from having what looks like a complete meltdown of governing in washington. Someone asked the question in one of our conferences when was the last time that congress was in session and voting between christmas and new years, and the answer was since 1970, there ha not been such a session, and it has actually only happened four times in the history of our country, and two of those times were dealing with world war ii. So i think the enormity of the issue is very clear, and thats why we are here. I think we should have done this six months ago, a year ago. I think all of us agree that we shouldnt be here at this last hour still trying to negotiate a point at which so Many Americans are going to be me heavily taxed. I was pleased to see that the distinguished deputy leader on the democratic side talked about the three areas that we have to address, and deficit reduction is most certainly one of them because we are facing a ceiling of a 16 trillion debt that is getting ready to be exceeded, so yes, deficit reducti and entitlement reform are two areas that we must address. This country cannot continue to have Social Security and medicare spiraling toward not even being solvent. We cant do it. But its going to take a bipartisan approach. I mean, its not Rocket Science to see that we have a democratic senate, a Republican House and a democratic president , and thats going to be the same starting january 3 of next year for at least two more years. So we know what were dealing with, and i think it affects us righ now in t fiscal cliff negotiations because we are not going to do anything unless it is bipartisan. We will not be able to pass anything in the house that doesnt have significant republican votes in the senate, and the democrats in the senate are not going to be able to support something that wont require some votes of democrats in the house. So we are together, maybe its like a dysfunctional family, but we do have to Work Together because withoutipartisanship, nothing is going anywhere. Therefore, i think you have to go back to negotiations01. Which is that someone in a negotiation has to win some and lose some. The other party in a negotiation has to win some and lose some. The president is not going to get everything he wants. The republicans in the house and senate are not going to get everything we want. Nor are the democrats in the house and senate. So we have areas where we can come together, and ive seen it. All of u we talking in the last couple of hours about how we have talked to our counterparts on the other side of the aisle here about what could bring us together, and there are very clear areas where we can come to an agreeme. We are n going to be able to negotiate all parts of what we must do to get our financial house in order. Were not going to be able to do tax reform in a comprehensive way. We are not going to be able to do the fixing of and reforming of our entitlement programs. We are not going to be able to set all of the spending cuts that we are going to have to do Going Forward right here in the next 36 hours. We cant do it. That has to be done on a basis of determining after many hearings and determinations what our priorities are and what the ceiling on spending should be. We must set a ceiling. Is it 18 or 20 of Gross Domestic Product . Is it some amount that goes down each year . That is the question that has to be decided after a lot of discussion next year. But what we can do is avoid a fiscal calamity by not having the sequestration take place on january 1 at midnight but make that a very short term. It cant be two years of a moratorium on sequestration because then we would not get to where we need to be and determining the priorities that will lower the rate of spending in this country. Our problem in this country is a spending problem, and with a 16 trillion debt, more spending is not going to be the ansr. So lets look at a very shortterm avoidance of sequestration because we dont want to disrupt our military when they have boots on the ground in harms way. We wouldnt do that. We wouldnt do it on either side of the aisle, so we need to talk about some shortterm sequestration avoidance but not a longterm one, because there are thingse can cut in the military budget that will not affect the equipment and the pay and the Living Conditions of our military. We can cut other things, so we have got to be able to come to terms with not having the sequestration but making it very short term. I think that it is clear that the president has wanted to increase taxes on what he considers the wealthy. I disagree with the president on what is wealthy. I hope that we can come to terms, and when i talk to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and even the president has said that a 400,000 threshold is something that he could accept. Many on the other side of the aisle have said 500,000, 600,000 is something that they could work with, and if we do some other things, i believe you could come to a consensus, not something that we like because i dont think we ought to tax anyone. I have certainly voted that way, but there is some area where we can have a shortterm fix that will keep us from having to go over this cliff and hurt so many people in this country. I think it is so important that we look at t bigticket items in a comprehensive way and know that were going to have to do that next year, but there are things we can do right now. I dont know one person out of a hundred here that wants the a. M. T. To take effect and cause people who make 35,000 to have to pay more taxes. A. M. Should not i think we should do away with the a. M. T. Completely, but cerinly it should not kick in at 35,000, and we need to fix it, and i think everybody here agrees we need to fix it. The distinguished deputy leader was talking about the death tax. Now, he doesnt think that we should fix the death tax. I certainly do. If we go to a Million Dollars exemption and a 55 tax i think that is going to hurt falyowned businesses, its going to hurt farms and ranches that lose the major owner, and its going to hurt the people who work for those familyowned businesses. And why is that . Its because the value on equipment and farms and ranches, which is land, does not have a revenue stream that allows you to pay the tax. So what do you have to do . You have to sell an asset that you cant get the valuation that is put on it. You cannot do it. I have owned a manufacturing company, and i can tell you, you cant sell the equipment for the value that is put on that piece of equipment. So what happens to a familyowned business . They end up having to sell at pennies on the dollar to pay the tax and people are put out of work. Now, is that really what we want . The exemptions that we have now ar 5 million and a 35 rate. It would go to 1 million in 36 or 48 hours, 1 million at a 55 rate, and remember the death tax is a tax that has already been paid again and again and again. Its a tax on the value of the equipment or the land that has already been taxed with a property tax or a tax on the equipment. So there is a reason to have some accommodation in the death tax so that we will not face more Unemployed People who work for a familyowned business or farm, and that is a it is if not the numberone issue of the farm bureau of this country, its certainly in the top two or three because they know, they know what its like to have to sell land that is not produive at a value that is not realistic and pay a tax, and a 55 tax is pretty confiscatory. So, mr. President , i do hope that we can come together on a bipartisan basis because if we dont come together on a bipartisan basis, nothing will get done bause we have the house that is looking to the United States senate, that is supposed to be the adult in the room, and they are looking at us to see how the votes turn out. And we need a large majority on both sides of the aisle to accepted to the houseomething that has a firm stamp of approval from this body. And we need the president to be a player here as well. Am encouraged that he is now talking to our leaders and hopefully being constructive, and certainly our Vice President who has served in this body for so long does understand the importance of the oneonone talks, and he is talking to, i know, our leader and most certainly the democratic leader as well. So, madam president , the hour is getting late, both figuratively and actually. We dont have much te to settle an issue that will affect the economy of this country. And last but not least, i am sure the president does not want on his watch to have a calamity like this happen, and i dont want on my watch as one who is leaving the senate this year for this to be the last thing that happen on my watch, and i dont think anyone here is going to benefit from a calamity happening in this countrys economy, even for a few days, because it just looks like we cant govern, and its time to realize that on a bipartisan basis, we can do some things that wont be universally liked and it wont be liked by everyone in this room or anyone in this room 100 because were not going to get everything that we think is right. But we can move our country forward. We can help everyone in this country, every taxpayer, but were not going to raise taxes to spend more. We should be saying okay, if theres going to be a threshold that pays more taxes, they should know its going to bring down the deficit. That is a very important point that we hope will be determined at the end of this road in 3648 hours. So thou, mr. President. And i yield the floor and House Democrats also spoke to reporters on the latest fiscal cliff negotiations. The weir from Democratic Caucus chairman john larsen, the soon tobe successor, and incoming vice chair joe crowley. Good evening. In keeping with the holiday spirit, merry everything and happy always. Would it be that we could make the American People happy by attending to the work at hand. We just concluded a caucus. Our membership is as frustrated as the American People we are sworn to serve because we understand and continue to be befuddled why we cannot bring a proposal to put the country back to work. Why we cannot deal with a tax cut for the middleclass, the specially when both sides agree that the country needs to go back to work. And that we need a middleclass tax relief. The president said it well both on friday and today. If we cannot if they cannot come to agreement in their own conference, if they continue to selfdestruct before our eyes in their own conference, then a minimally they have a responsibility, as the president suggested, to bring his proposal to the floor for an up or down vote on behalf of the American People. That is what we continue to focus on, putting the country back to work and the jobs that Everybody Knows will assist in bringing down the National Debt while employing our people that are out of work and addressing the problems at hand, including a tax break for the middle class. We can only help that our colleagues come to their senses. Again, john boehner is an honorable man. I think he has outside forces in his own conference working against him, but more importantly working against the American People. It is our sincere hope that we are able to resolve this and get it done without taking this nation over the fiscal cliff. Minimally, our caucus is unanimous in our support and responsibility to take a vote in the house of representatives. With that, i turn it to our vice chair. We do have votes ill be brief. I will simply state that the House Majority called us back for votes. Today believe voting votes are beginning as we speak. Our understanding is that none of the votes we will be casting today have anything to do with the deadlines that we face in slightly more than 24 hours. We are here, we are ready, we believe there is a bill that would help address some of these deadlines that we face and the fiscal consequences of not ask acting on these deadlines before us. That is the bipartisanpassed bill that would protect middle class families, many tax increases. G from any tax increases. One way or another we should get something done. The American People have asked us to do that. I know my colleagues have heard what i heard. Ive heard from friends and family, from constituents back home. Just get it done. We have a little more than 24 hours. Lets put bills on the floor that can pass. They may not get all the republican colleagues to vote for them, but they can pass. They are balanced and have a chance to pass. We are here we should get work done. Let me yield to the incoming vice chair of the Democratic Caucus. Thank you. Ill be brief. It feels a lot like groundhog day. This is the fifth time i have said this. I feel like im saying the same thing, except in the movie time really did not matter. In real life, we know we have 24 hours or so and well be facing dire circumstances, i think, for our nation. If we fail if the Republican Congress fails to act and work in conjunction with our president , they will lead us over the fiscal cliff. I hope that is not what they want us to do. Every indication right now is that the Republican Congress continues to not work in good faith with the president. There is still time left i hope they will come to their senses and do the right thing. Thank you. It is our intent to caucus every day we are here, and we will be engaging with the press after those caucuses as well. I apologize we will have to go up and vote. If you want to walk with us and ask questions, you can. Thank you so much. Chris frates, Congressional Correspondent from National Journal joins us from capitol hill with the latest. Then you tell us the this that about the discussion between harry reid and Mitch Mcconnell . Right now there does not seem to be too much happening. We kind of had a topsyturvy day. Lots of sound and fury but not a lot of action. We had democrat to started the day, saying it will be republicans demand to change the way benefits are paid out that that was a non started to democrats. Republicans said we put it out last night and an offer, we have not gotten a counteroffer from democrats and we are waiting to see where they are. Both sides huddled this afternoon with their respective caucuses. Republicans came out and said we are fine, we are taking the demand of the table, and democrats said they should have but that are still trying to balance the entire budget on the backs of the middleclass, and we are not there yet. What i hear from folks who are working the negotiations is the across the board defense and entitlement cuts does go into effect january 1 is a big Sticking Point in the negotiations. There is the tax piece with those trying to avoid taxes going up automatically january 1. And then the spending side trying to make sure these acrosstheboard spending cuts do not happen. A Sticking Point for how and if they avoid the spending cuts while they try to work on avoiding the tax increases. Earlier, after the Democratic Caucus broke up, there was a report harry reid had made a new offer, a new counteroffer, to republicans. What was the story . I was actually in that squawk of reporters as he walked out of the Democratic Caucus meeting. He was asked, senator reid, have you or do you plan to make a counteroffer . He said, i just did. And he kept walking. We all reported he in fact made a counter offer. Shortly thereafter i talked to his spokesperson and said no, no, no he has just been rhetorical. He has not made a counteroffer. I do not know if it was harry reid of humor that was misunderstood it in the scrum of reporters or if they had made a counteroffer but they wanted to walk back because it was not public. Really unclear. That is how it has been. Lots of information flowing back and forth, lots of rumors, lots of lawmakers trafficking on i heard of this and i heard that and not good solid information. But one story that came out was Mitch Mcconnell had been in contact or was going to speak with piece president biden. I love this one. The republican leader calls joe biden off the bench. This is kind of what we all have been waiting for. The Senate Republican leader and the vicepresident have a good working relationship. We saw it last summer in the debt ceiling debate. Those two guys swooped in at the end and made a deal happen. When i talked to mcconnells folks last week he said, you know, the Vice President has been on the sidelines. We have not been contacted by them, by the president. It was an interesting move by Mitch Mcconnell to call joe biden today and try to jump start these negotiations when they locked up with the majority leader of the democratic side. I think that will be something to watch here in these coming hours how does he play . There are democrats who are concerned that maybe they will cut a bad deal. They are feeling pretty good. Well joe biden, in and emboldened the republicans or will be dems and together across pennsylvania avenue from the white house to congress . A big story line we are watching right now very closely. Now that we hear week that are coming back, senator reid once to bring the senate back tomorrow morning at 11 00. Is it likely will have some sort of deal or counter offer it on hand when the gavel back in . I wish to tell you that. If i could, i would be a millionaire because i would be making bets on the stock market and kind of future telling that none of us can discern at this point. I think the hope, of course, is there could be some kind of deal. But remember, democrats feel they are in a pretty strong position here. If they cant get a deal that republicans can sign onto, they are going to put a scaledback plan on the floor of the senate tomorrow and dare republicans to block it. At that point, it is unclear what will happen. It might even passed the senate and moved to the house and create momentum that way. There is a lot to watch and a lot of moving pieces and nobody is quite sure when the music stops. In the scaledback version, what is the income level senators are looking at . Certainly the president has put 250,000 out there. That will be what most people assume will happen if there is no deal and harry reid put to the president s plan on the floor and it will be 250,000 now. The negotiations over that in trying to get a deal are a big Sticking Point. I heard from republicans that it may have gone as high as 500,000. Democrats tell me they have moved, they are negotiating that. They will not say the number but i hear it may be as high as half a million. Chris frates is Congressional Correspondent for National Journal. Thanks for the update. Thank you. House and senate wrapped up a rare weekend sessions with no agreement on a deal to avert the socalled fiscal cliff. Both chambers return today as negotiations continue. The house comes in at 9 00 a. M. Eastern for general speeches and 10 00 a. M. For legislative business. Last night the rules committee waive the rule requiring a two thirds vote to consider same day legislation. This would clear the way for a vote on a possible fiscal cliff bill. No time have been set for house votes. Live coverage on cspan. According to Senate Majority leader harry reid sunday, there is still open significant distance between the two sides. There are back today at 11 00 a. M. Eastern with rollcall votes possible. Live severed senate coverages of cspan2. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton was admitted to a New York Hospital on sunday. According to the state department, doctors discovered a blood clot stemming from a concussion she sustained several weeks ago. She is being treated with anticoagulants and doctors will continue to monitor her condition is to see if further treatment is needed