Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Minns Excerpts

Monday 7th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Pennycook]

The shadow Minister raises a justified point, in that in some cases securing the necessary public service infrastructure is about ensuring that the buildings are brought forward through the relevant developer contributions and other infrastructure funding streams. In some cases, there are other issues, such as workforce challenges in particular. We regularly speak to colleagues in other Departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care, to ensure that we get that infrastructure up front and alongside development.

[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

5. What steps her Department is taking to encourage greater participation by young people in democratic processes.

[Alex Baker (Aldershot) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to encourage greater participation by young people in democratic processes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Florence Eshalomi]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Young people must be seen and heard. We are giving 16 and 17-year-olds across the UK a vote in elections. We are working across Government and with our partners to prepare them to exercise that right, including through our £2.5 million Democratic Education Fund.

[Ms Minns]

I very much welcome the Government’s plans to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds, but blind and visually impaired young voters will still be disenfranchised as long as there is not legislation that requires them to be able to vote, in secret and independently, like their peers. Will the Minister please reiterate the commitment she gave last week that the Government will table an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill to provide fully accessible voting to all voters of all ages?

[Florence Eshalomi]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question and for all her work highlighting this important issue, and I am happy to reiterate my commitment on Report. As she noted in that debate, the Government have indicated their readiness to act during the passage of the Bill so that visually impaired voters can vote independently and in secret. We will continue to work with her and other hon. Members to deliver that outcome.