Schools: Citizenship Education Debate
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Baroness Meacher
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Schools: Citizenship Education
Baroness Meacher Excerpts(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The issues around citizenship, promoting engagement in our democracy and ensuring that young people feel it is worth their while are not served by using the Chamber in that way.
Baroness Meacher (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that people need maturity as well as education to vote responsibly and that, at 16, people might have a very good education but are unlikely to be mature? Does she agree, therefore, that the voting age should not be reduced to 16?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
It was a manifesto commitment of this Government to consider that. The evidence demonstrates that young people take on quite a lot of responsibilities at 16. Following on from the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, starting voting earlier seems to ensure that people will be more engaged in democracy throughout their lives.