Naomi Long MP said: “I want to praise Dundonald High School on holding this event to mark Parliament Week. I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to talk with the students about politics and hear about the issues they want addressed. They asked many very interesting questions and I believe that politicians can learn a lot from young people and must ensure they encourage them to make their voice heard.
“Last year, I backed a motion calling for the UK Youth Parliament to be allowed to use the House of Commons for debate on an annual basis. The UK Youth Parliament is holding a debate there today as part of Parliament Week, and I believe this is a very positive initiative to help get more young people involved in politics. I would also like to congratulate Alex Huston, the East Belfast member of the UK Youth Parliament for his participation in the debate today.
“Parliament Week provides the perfect opportunity to widen participation in politics and it is very important that everyone has a chance to see what Parliament does and how it impacts upon their lives. Decisions that are made at Westminster can have such an impact on people’s lives and I believe Parliament Week is crucial in demonstrating how democracy works for everyone. It also highlights the importance of their participation in the democratic system.”
ENDS