The Ferret digs behind the headlines

Government moves to tighten rules on asylum seekers may have pleased some newspapers. But how will the ending of exceptional leave to remain (ELR) affect young people? No one seems to know. At the moment it is very uncertain, says Save the Children policy officer Kate Stanley. There are around eight and a half thousand unaccompanied young asylum seekers in the UK, mostly in London and the Southeast. Most have been granted ELR. This lasts until they are 18, and is only a deferred refusal, says Stanley. But the humanitarian protection that replaces ELR is to be granted for a maximum of three years. What happens after that? Could it be extended? Could a young person be removed from the country on their 18th birthday having spent all their teenage years here? Would they be denied financial support? The Refugee Council doesnt know, and no-one can get answers from the Home Office. Young people will still be able to win a cuddly toy from a grabber in seaside arcades. It was a close thing, though. Last March new regulations on gaming machines were proposed that would restrict under-18s to playing just one category of amusement machines. These have a maximum stake of 10p and a maximum payout of 5. Horror spread when it was realised that this would effectively ban young people from grabber machines, which have a 30p stake. So sport minister Richard Caborn stepped in and announced a change to the proposal that would permit under-18s to play machines with a stake of up to 30p, as long as the prize is not cash or tokens. Relief all round. Provided the amendment doesnt drop off the crane just before he swings it round to the chute.They are doing their best, so its not polite to mock. But someone has odd ideas of how to open up government to young people. The young government web site(younggov.ukonline.gov.uk) fearlessly tackles the question high on many young peoples agenda. How do I become an astronaut?Perhaps it will excuse the expression take off. Imagine massed ranks of placard-wielding young people streaming down Whitehall. All determined to put a rocket up the European Space Agency. Practise the chant now: What do we want? Space flights! When do we want them? Speed of light!