§ 12. Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, because a person who is over 18 and under 21 years of age may now vote at a local or parliamentary election but may not stand as a candidate at either, the Government intends to take steps to change this situation.
§ Mr. SharplesThe analogy is not exact. My right hon. Friend remains to be persuaded of the justification for such a change.
§ Mr. FoxI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but will he accept that in removing this anomaly he will not be distorting our system? To be nominated is not automatically to be elected to this House, as all hon. Members know. I ask him to act on this sooner rather than later.
§ Mr. SharplesThere will be an opportunity, if the House wishes, on the Local Government Bill to discuss this matter in relation to local elections. Wider considerations come into operation when one considers parliamentary elections.
§ Mr. Michael CocksThe hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Marcus Fox) could help himself by tabling an Amendment in the Committee which is now considering the Local Government Bill and so breaking the self-imposed vow of silence of some hon. Members on that Committee.
§ Mr. SharplesI am sure that my hon. Friend heard that suggestion.