4. Will the Commission make a statement on preparations for the extension of the franchise ahead of the next Assembly election in May 2021? OAQ54729

The Assembly Commission is working with a range of partners, including the Electoral Commission, local authorities and the Welsh Government, to co-ordinate our education and awareness-raising activities, seeking to make the best use of resources and utilising each organisation’s expertise to engage younger people.

I'm grateful to the Llywydd for her reply. I'm sure that the Llywydd would agree with me that it's particularly important that we engage young people in this process. Concerns have been raised in the course of the debate about making sure that we drive up the participation of young people between 16 and 17 in elections. May I suggest, Llywydd, that, if appropriate, this is something that could be discussed with the Youth Parliament and with the bodies particularly that support young people to participate in the Parliament, as the young people themselves may have some suggestions about what is the most effective way, both of ensuring they have the knowledge that they need, but also of actually physically enabling them to vote?

Yes, I think it is hugely important that we include those interesting and energetic young people that we have representing the young people of Wales in the Welsh Youth Parliament, with their ideas as to how best to engage with young people in Wales in order to present them with the fact that they may well have the vote for the next Assembly election by 2021—16 and 17-year-olds. They have expertise in this area that we, as older adults, don't have.

We are already working with Members of the Youth Parliament, and, on the point that you make, we need to work with those groups who support some of our youth parliamentarians to ensure that the mode of engagement is interesting and contemporary, and that they can provide that advice to us as to the best possible ways of engaging with young people during this time. So, we will ensure that we continue and enhance that work, and that we draw on the enthusiasm of those young people who are Members of our Youth Parliament in order to support us in this work.

Thank you very much. Diolch, Llywydd.