Opinion: The UK could learn from the Soviet Union

The reference in the article to "palaces" took me back to visits to Moscow in the days of the Soviet Union. What people, especially the critics of the regime, forget is the magnificent provision made for young people, even if it was in the interests of ideological renewal. The children who were Young Octobrists, the young people who were Pioneers, and the young adults who were members of the Komsomol had access to the best sporting, creative, and other leisure activities. I was quite overwhelmed when I visited the Pioneer Palace in Moscow in 1985 and equally impressed by the youth cafes for older young people. The former had rooms for art, music, gymnastics - anything young people might want to do in their leisure time. The latter were places for young adults to relax, listen to music and talk. I remember being similarly impressed with the youth centres in the old East Berlin. They were built from the finest materials and would have been the envy of any old Albemarle Centre over here.