HC Deb 22 October 2003 vol 411 c636W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what changes to the voting system are planned to encourage young people to vote. [133348]

Mr. Leslie

The Government are keen to encourage young people to participate in elections. My Department has contributed to the Children and Young People Unit's work in the Department for Education and Skills on the engagement of young people in democracy. We fully support the Electoral Commission's campaigns and competitions aimed specifically at young people and the addition of 'citizenship studies' to the school curriculum. All these developments recognise the importance and value of voting and aim to increase the interest, understanding and involvement of young people with democratic processes. The use of new technology to vote, as piloted in recent local elections, is also regarded as having particular appeal for younger voters.