The British Youth Council, supported by the House of Commons, today (17 April 2012) launched the Youth Select Committee - a new body which mirrors the UK Parliament Select Committee structure and gives young people the opportunity to scrutinise and hold enquiries in to topics they're interested in.

The group's first inquiry, in July, will look at public transport - as identified as a priority by members of the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament in 2011. The terms of reference for the inquiry are: 'to inquire into issues and concerns around safe, affordable and accessible transport for young people and make recommendations to decision makers to address them.'

The Youth Select Committee is open to take evidence from Tuesday 17th April 2012 to Monday 14th May 2012. The inquiry will take place on Friday 6th and Friday 13th July 2012 in the same committee rooms used by Parliamentary Select Committees in Westminster, and their final report will be published in November 2012.