---

Economic Downturn (Unemployment)

Although badgers are important, one aspect that the debate has not concentrated on is youth unemployment, and I am sorry not to have been able to make a contribution on that. We have 600 16 to 19-year-olds in Swindon who are not in education, training or employment, and I am extremely concerned about those young people. I would have welcomed the opportunity to tell the Committee the outcome of the two public meetings I had in order to improve local democracy and bring the views of those people here. I am sorry that I have not had that opportunity, but I hope that the Minister will make some mention of youth unemployment and explain what the Government are doing, by way of the September guarantee and extra university places, to help those young people.