HC Deb 16 July 2002 vol 389 cc188-9W
Linda Perham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she will take in response to the publication of the 'Yvote?/Ynot?' report by the Children and Young People's Unit. [69615]

Mr. Denham

The Children and Young People's Unit will be working with the Electoral Commission and a wide range of young people's organisations to extend the debate about the report's findings. We plan to make the materials from the project available to teachers, youth workers and organisations working directly with young people. We shall be working with the All Party Group on Youth Affairs to explore how honourable Members can be helped to improve their communication with young people. The report also identified the importance of information about the political process and this will be a

key feature of citizenship education which will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002.

My objective is to seek to ensure that all young people who have the opportunity to vote for the first time at the next general election should have considered the issues involved.