Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)

My hon. Friend makes an interesting point. Indeed, I shall make almost the same point shortly.

Earlier this year, Martin Bright, who is the former political editor of the New Statesman, wrote a piece entitled, "A New Deal of the Mind". I do not know how many hon. Members read it, but the Government were greatly interested and supported it. It was a truly visionary piece, which was about scooping up that potentially lost generation and creating a version of Franklin Roosevelt's new deal of the 1930s. It is targeted more towards those leaving university or tertiary education so that a whole generation will not be lost. It would mean an army of young people employed on projects—the article also suggests using that army to do things that are not normally done—to record, write, film, photograph, design and archive aspects of our lives, the recession and living histories, thus creating a legacy from this era for future generations. They would document all the communities in our land—that does not get done in better times—while battling the scourge of unemployment in current times.

The article was so inspiring—I tell everyone to google "A New Deal of the Mind"—that it received much cross-party support. There was another bit of a do at No. 11 Downing street to launch the new deal of the mind— [Interruption.] I do not spend all my time at No. 11 Downing street. There was a stellar gathering, with the head of every artistic, musical and literary institute and organisation in this country present. I have never seen a guest list like it. They were all buying into the concept. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport were there and fully signed up to the ideal. Mr. Vaizey also attended and spoke in support. I am sure that it will come as a relief to Conservative Members to know that support was not caveat free, but we all spoke in favour. The leader of my party also supports the new deal of the mind—it is simply a good idea.

Ideas included a brains trust for the 21st century, a national oral history taskforce, a national family history project and a new deal for art and drama. I have been so enthusiastic about the project since I first heard about it that I have been blogging about it. At the weekend, I visited another constituent, who happens to run a charity. He said, "You're interested in this new deal of the mind—you've been blogging about it." His charity is cataloguing oil paintings in public ownership in every county of the land. He said that if I could hook him up with new deal of the mind, he had an apprenticeship to offer in every county because a book of oil paintings in public ownership is produced for every county. Apart from local councils, there are many people who have a vision, want to help and could be harnessed in that way.

I hope that the new deal of the mind will be part of the Government's guarantee. As my hon. Friend Steve Webb said, I do not understand why those projects cannot start from day one. The sooner people leaving college with nowhere to go get involved in that worthy and marvellous idea, the better. What part of the guaranteed budget will be used to ensure that all 18 to 24-year-olds will be in a job? How can it be accessed? How will it work? How much of that budget will go to a new deal of the mind? It is important to realise that vision, which has the hallmark of greatness. It will leave a legacy to this country for which everyone in years to come will be grateful.

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