Scotland: Children's commissioner plans to set up youth advisory group

The advisory body will be made up of between 10 and 12 people aged 14 to 18, although the age range can extend to 21 for those who have been in care.

The group, which commissioner Kathleen Marshall hopes to set up by July, will perform a similar role to the Children and Youth Board set up in England by the Department for Education and Skills. It will be used as a "sounding board" and will advise on issues including the design of publicity materials, as well as helping to organise consultation events for young people.

The members, who will sit on the group for two years, will be paid a participation fee for attending meetings around Scotland six times a year. The group is likely to be split into working groups covering different subject areas or projects, including helping the commissioner to decide which company to appoint to develop her web site.