§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations he has received on votes for 16-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [123283]
§ Mr. LeslieMy Department has received a number of representations from MPs and members of the public about lowering the voting age to 16 years. Voting age was one of the issues considered in the Children and Young People's Unit's "Yvote/Ynot?" initiative. At the launch in July 2002 of the report following this exercise, the independent Electoral Commission undertook to conduct a review of both voting age and the age of candidacy. The Electoral Commission's review commenced on 27 February 2003, and I understand that the Commission, as part of its review, will issue a public consultation paper very soon.