Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will make an assessment of the effect of extending the franchise for Scottish Parliament elections to 16 and 17 year olds on the level of youth engagement in the electoral process.

The Commission is currently collecting information to inform its statutory report on the Scottish Parliament elections. The report will include information about turnout and participation among 16- and 17-year-olds.

The report will also identify any conclusions which can be drawn from comparison with turnout and participation at previous polls, particularly the 2014 referendum.