Following the outcome of the poll the issue identified as key for young people will be taken before the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions committee in the coming months.

The poll will ask young people to determine the global concern they would like to see the Scottish Parliament take action on, including issues like renewable energy and global poverty. A shortlist of four topics will be produced from the results and launched at a Youth Politics event at this year’s Festival of Politics in the Parliament next month where one priority issue will be identified.

The initiative is a joint one between Young Scot, YouthLink Scotland, Scottish Youth Parliament, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People and Carnegie UK Trust.

Speaking as the poll went live today the Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP said:

“This is an exciting opportunity for young people to put the issues that matter to them to the top of the political agenda. Festivals are about new ideas and new experiences and I would encourage as many young people as possible to log on and join in the debate.”

Charlie McConnell, CEO Carnegie UK Trust said:

“Helping to give young a voice has been at the heart of much of our work over the past decade through the Carnegie Young People Initiative and the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust’s local grant programmes. We have had longstanding links with Young Scot, YouthLink and the Scottish Youth Parliament and are delighted to be working in partnership with them to deliver the 2008 Youth Politics Festival . We encourage all young Scots to join in the debate."

The poll will be live from 4-14 July on the websites of Scottish Youth Parliament and Young Scot. The Youth Politics event will take place in the Parliament on 23 August.