Democratic Participation Young People 2026-09-07
2026-09-07
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The questioner seeks information on steps the Department is taking to boost young people's engagement in democratic processes.
What steps her Department is taking to encourage greater participation by young people in democratic processes.
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.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The questioner welcomes the Government's plans to extend voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds but notes that blind and visually impaired voters will still be disenfranchised without specific legislation.
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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner notes that young people's citizenship education varies and that if we want more young people to engage with democracy, they need the knowledge and confidence to do so.
Does the Minister agree that if we want more young people to engage with our democracy, we must give them the knowledge and confidence to do so? What more can the Government do to ensure that young people leave school understanding how they can make their voices heard?
I thank my hon. Friend for the work she has highlighted. When we are going out and speaking to young people across schools and sixth forms, it is important to ensure that they are equipped. We want them to engage with the democratic process and to ensure that they continue that into adulthood. That means equipping and empowering them with the knowledge and understanding that they need. The Education Secretary is considering recommendations for the curriculum and an assessment review, alongside the Government's ambition to transform technical education from 14 through to 16. We expect there to be a full public consultation on proposals for the curriculum, and an assessment in due course.
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Assessment & feedback
Does not specify concrete steps or timeline for ensuring young people leave school understanding how to engage in democracy.
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
Rishi Sunak
Con
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Context
The questioner highlights the efforts of pupils at Brompton Community primary school who gathered evidence and spoke to local officials about a 20 mph speed limit.
Will the Minister join me in praising their effort, and agree that they are an inspiring example of what young people can do when they get involved in the democratic process?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his work; it is good to see that he continues to be an active constituency MP. One of the best parts about this role for us all is going to visit our primary and secondary schools and meeting young people—we never know what questions we are going to get. I praise the campaigning efforts of the young people from Brompton Community primary school, and encourage all young people in other schools to carry out similar community engagements.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner highlights local youth organisations and work experience students and asks about steps to ensure young people can find information online.
What steps is the Minister taking with other Departments to ensure that young people can find information online?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that important point. It is important that we understand that young people receive information about voting through many different means, including through social media, and I know that colleagues in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are looking at challenges around misinformation and fake news circulating online. It is important that we look at the places where young people spend the majority of their time—schools and educational settings—and ensure that our teachers, trainers and carers are equipped to engage with our young people in the right way. The democratic engagement fund will be key to helping with that and the Electoral Commission is also looking at the issue of online engagement.
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Assessment & feedback
Does not specify concrete steps or timeline for ensuring young people can find information online.
Response accuracy