Lib Dems adopt statutory youth services pledge

It follows a motion put forward at the party's spring conference earlier this month in which party members were asked to consider the policy paper Free to be Young, which, in addition to pledging to make youth services statutory, included plans for a cross-departmental committee to ensure a joined up approach to youth issues in government.

Linda Jack, chair of the Liberal Democrats' youth policy working group, said the paper had passed with little resistance from members.

She said: "Although one person did question the idea of putting youth work on a statutory footing, no one tabled any amendments so it all went through."

Other plans that have been adopted as Liberal Democrat policy include:

• Providing young people with access to specialist support and advice on everything from their legal rights and responsibilities to the effects of drugs and alcohol
• The immediate removal from the National DNA Database of all DNA samples taken from children under 16, bar those convicted of either a violent or sexual offence
• Incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK legislation
• Abolishing "mosquito devices" and unnecessary restrictions on the assembly of young people
• Challenging the broadcast and print media to take more responsibility for the issue of body confidence
• Recommending the Press Complaints Commission updates its code of practice to make it clear that the media should not demonise young people

Jack said the party will now consider what parts of the youth policy paper will appear in its election manifesto.