Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of political knowledge among 16- and 17-year-olds in light of research published by the Electoral Commission on 3 March showing that around 30 per cent of young people aged 18 and under report having heard about politics at school or college in the past year; and what assessment they have made of the implications of those findings for young people’s understanding of how Parliament works.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government believes that by extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds and building a strong foundation for democratic participation among young people, we can establish democratic participation habits which will continue as they grow older. We believe that young people should be much more involved in decisions that affect them. Decisions the Government makes now will not only affect young people today but will have an enduring impact on their entire lives.
The Government also recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to participate confidently in democratic life. The Government wants everyone to understand the value of their voice and the role they can play and we will promote a deeper understanding of why democracy matters. To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make it a legal requirement to teach citizenship at key stages 1 and 2 – focussed on the most essential content. This includes democracy and government, as well as media literacy, law and rights, financial literacy, and climate education. The second curriculum will build on primary content and fit with the content in other subjects to ensure that all pupils get an essential grounding in a range of topics.
A strong and value the democratic institutions and the democratic process. Citizenship education, reinforced across the curriculum, can play a vital role in making sure young people feel the democratic process is relevant to themcitizenship curriculum should include democratic institutions. The Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review response recognised this and highlighted that that it is vital to ensure that young people understand, and that they understand how constitutional principles such as the rule of law protect them and benefit their lives.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds without corresponding increases in civic education.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government believes that by extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds and building a strong foundation for democratic participation among young people, we can establish democratic participation habits which will continue as they grow older. We believe that young people should be much more involved in decisions that affect them. Decisions the Government makes now will not only affect young people today but will have an enduring impact on their entire lives.
The Government also recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to participate confidently in democratic life. The Government wants everyone to understand the value of their voice and the role they can play and we will promote a deeper understanding of why democracy matters. To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make it a legal requirement to teach citizenship at key stages 1 and 2 – focussed on the most essential content. This includes democracy and government, as well as media literacy, law and rights, financial literacy, and climate education. The second curriculum will build on primary content and fit with the content in other subjects to ensure that all pupils get an essential grounding in a range of topics.
A strong and value the democratic institutions and the democratic process. Citizenship education, reinforced across the curriculum, can play a vital role in making sure young people feel the democratic process is relevant to themcitizenship curriculum should include democratic institutions. The Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review response recognised this and highlighted that that it is vital to ensure that young people understand, and that they understand how constitutional principles such as the rule of law protect them and benefit their lives.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to change the electoral qualification and disqualification provisions on whether Members of Parliament can (1) stand for election, and (2) continue to hold office, as (a) councillors, (b) council mayors, (c) Police and Crime Commissioners, and (d) combined authority mayors.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Baroness to the response given to Question UIN 47703 on 30 April 2025. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Mayors who hold the PCC function are disqualified from standing for election or continuing to hold office if they become Members of Parliament. Government has laid out proposals to extend similar arrangements to Mayors of a combined authority, combined county authority or the Greater London Authority who do not hold the PCC function. There are no plans to similarly change disqualification criteria for other elected mayors or councillors.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the best value inspection of Tower Hamlets Council in 2024, what assessment was made by the Commissioners of the standards of behaviour in council meetings.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Best Value Inspection of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets report was published on 12th November 2024. Inspectors found that “[council] meetings have, at times, been fractious, the tone has been occasionally aggressive and sometimes there has been filibustering… it is our view that this has, unfortunately, over-shadowed and impaired the quality of debate in the chamber.” (paragraph 3.42)
The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has appointed three Ministerial Envoys to work with the Council to address the issues found in the Inspection Report, and intends to publish their first report on the Council’s progress this summer.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Minister for Housing and Planning on 10 March (HCWS510), what is their timetable for the publication of the consultation on removing statutory consultees in the planning process; and which elements of the wider reform will be delivered through primary and secondary legislation.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have committed to consult this Spring on the impact of removing a limited number of statutory consultees. A publication date is yet to be confirmed.