Public Participation in Politics

HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 c476W

Mr. Allen

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government has taken to encourage public participation in politics. [125179]

Mr. Leslie

This Government introduced legislation to set up the independent Electoral Commission, which has a duty to educate and inform the public about the importance of participation in the democratic process.

The Government has also introduced, from 2002, citizenship education into the national curriculum. The programme of study includes teaching pupils about the importance of voting and participation in the democratic process which is intended to give young people sufficient knowledge to engage with the political process.