VOTING AGE AND 16-YEAR-OLDS

That this House commemorates the 40th anniversary on 12 May 2009 of the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 years; notes that in the eyes of the law young people aged 16 years can take on full-time jobs, pay taxes and become sexually active; further notes that a recent report by the Electoral Reform Society shows that polling of 16 and 17 year-olds consistently shows that a majority want the voting age lowered to 16 years; and urges the Government to lower the voting age to 16 years to ensure young people's rights reflect their responsibilities.