Asked by: Lord Hampton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on obtaining reciprocal voting rights in local elections for UK citizens in Italy; and whether these negotiations are a priority for the Government.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We have existing bilateral agreements with Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Luxembourg, which were negotiated by the previous government. The UK is open to further, fully reciprocal bilateral voting agreements but these would be subject to the detail of future negotiations.
Asked by: Lord Hampton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are considering to encourage political engagement among young Britons living and working in the EU.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
It is for British nationals as individuals to decide whether they wish to become politically active while living and working in the EU.
Asked by: Lord Hampton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the development of an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the rights to early childhood education, free pre-primary education and free secondary education.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is committed to investing in children and ensuring equal access to education. In the UK we already provide free pre-primary (reception years), primary and secondary education and have been leading globally on ensuring education for all. The UK considers that States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child should already be providing free education under the existing provisions of the Convention.