MP gives pupils the Chance to be Chancellor

Jan 28 2009 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

AIRDRIE & Shotts MP John Reid, has written to local high schools urging them to get involved in the Chance to be Chancellor competition.

He said: “The competition enables pupils aged 14 to 19 to develop their own budget, identifying their views on priorities for public spending.

“This is the second year of the competition, which acts as an important tool for delivering financial and economic education in schools.

“It also gives pupils the opportunity to have their say on how to tackle the financial crisis in the UK brought on by the world-wide downturn.”

School pupils are provided with a list of policies based on those outlined in the Pre Budget Report.

Pupils are required to prioritise the policies that they think are most important, making compromises where necessary, and then justify their choices by writing the Chancellor’s speech of between 500-1000 words.

The entries are then reviewed and the winners will be announced at the time of the budget.

Mr Reid said: “Young people deserve to have their voices heard and this competition is one way of doing that.

“I know anyone who participates will find it interesting, informative and challenging.

“I look forward to hearing the proposals being put forward by our budding Chancellors.

“If both Helen Liddell and I from St Patrick’s High can make it to the Cabinet there is no reason why another local pupil cannot follow in our footsteps as a future Chancellor.”

The closing date for the competition is Friday, February 27, and the overall winner will receive a Nintendo Wii Console Sports Pack along with a £250 charity voucher to give to a charity of their choice.