To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he took in choosing local authorities to take part in the COO-L positive activities bursary pilot.

The two COO-L (Choice and Opportunities On-Line) pilots are part of a programme involving nine local authorities to test different approaches to addressing the particular barriers to participation in positive activities that exist for disadvantaged young people in their area. Local authorities were invited to take part because the development work they had already undertaken, as pilot areas for the youth opportunity card, showed evidence of the benefits to be gained both for disadvantaged young people in their area and in informing national strategy on youth activities. Each local authority was required to submit a detailed plan, demonstrating value for money, against clearly defined criteria.