Home Office Minister Alun Michael has urged local authorities to continue backing youthful interest in communities as a way of encouraging positive alternatives to disaffection and social exclusion.And he told delegates at a Local Government Association and National Youth Agency seminar that partnership was key to giving young people the opportunity to make a difference in their communities. 

A new survey shows that partnership working, training and family friendly working practices lead to higher levels of employee commitment and job satisfaction.The 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey involved the DTI, ACAS, the Economic and Social Research Council, and Policy Studies Institute.