Earlier this week, Anna Firth MP hosted the first ever Children’s Parliament Select Committee in Westminster as she welcomed ten lucky primary school students from Southend West to grill water bosses and businesses on sustainability and management.
The two-hour session saw representatives from the water company Anglian Water, filtration business Aquaphor UK, sports organisation Football for Peace, and Leigh-based entrepurenianal company Velocity face a grilling from the first ever ‘Child MPs’ to grace Westminster.
Opening the meeting, Anna Firth MP praised the children for their enthusiasm and the power of democracy despite difficult challenges faced up and down across the country.
The Children’s Parliament Select Committee is intended be the first in a regular series of committees which will focus on issues impacting the future of young people, from the environment to modern technology.
Speaking on the event, she said that “the Children’s Parliament is the perfect example of our country’s steadfast devotion to giving everyone a voice, and I believe these students will continue to thrive and are a testament to Southend’s premium delivery of primary education. It is a pleasure to be helping spearhead this project in Westminster.”
Anglian Water faced tough questions on their approach to sewage and storm overflows, outlining their commitment to improving the current situation and the money they are investing into the local site in Southend-on-Sea.
Speaking on the event, the Regional Engagement Manager for Anglian Water said “it was a pleasure to be invited to meet with the Children’s Parliament and face a true grilling from the primary school students who really held us to account. Anglian Water remains committed to transparency and looks forward to supporting future events as the programme continues to succeed.”
The next Children’s Parliament Select Committee is expected to take place after Christmas and will see more students asked to don their thinking caps and hold key decision makers to account on their future.
