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Meeting of the Parliament 27 June 2013

27 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill

Goldie, Annabel Con West Scotland Watch on SPTV

I hope that this debate—I am pleased to have played a role in stimulating some sort of debate—has disturbed part of the consensus. What I said was intended not as a polemic but simply to introduce a bit of contrary thought to the process.

The point that I was going to make to Mr Crawford when he courteously refused my request to intervene was that, while I accept the consistency of what he is arguing for, I do not know the answer to the question whether, if we are giving young people of 16 and 17 the vote, we should let them buy alcohol. Do we give them firearms licences? Do we allow them to drive motor cars? No one has clarified those aspects to me. Perhaps that debate is for another day.

One important area that time constraints meant that I could not dwell on in my opening speech is the right of our armed forces personnel to exercise their vote. In fairness, I accept that the Deputy First Minister has listened to concerns that emerged at the committee and I know that she is working with her Westminster counterparts to facilitate every possibility that armed forces personnel outwith Scotland can exercise their vote on such an important issue.

A related anxiety is about ensuring that 16 and 17-year-olds who are abroad with their armed forces parents are given the same opportunity. I know that the Scottish Government is investigating that. If there is an update on that, I would very much appreciate hearing about it.

The process that the bill envisages involves the need for information, the encouragement to vote and then, on the day of voting, access to appropriate facilities. I was struck by the briefing that we received yesterday from the NUS Scotland. It made some excellent points and pointed out that

“It is vital that comprehensive efforts are made to educate young people who will be eligible to vote at the time of the referendum about how to register, and ensure they have the information and tools needed to take part in this historic vote”.

That is absolutely right.

The NUS also makes the interesting point that it would support

“the unbiased promotion of referendum participation in schools and colleges”.

I agree, provided that such promotion is unbiased. It goes on to say that it

“would like to see polling places open on college and university campuses for the referendum.”

I have a great deal of sympathy with that, because the referendum will take place at what could be a critical transitional point for some students. The Electoral Commission also picked up that issue in its briefing.

Another aspect that I will dwell on is whether there could be a useful tandem between the NUS and the Electoral Commission. A lot of the Electoral Commission’s briefing involves cross-references, and some themes are repeated by the NUS and the Electoral Commission. Such a tandem might be helpful.

The Electoral Commission’s briefing talked about what it was doing to improve awareness among 15 to 17-year-olds. It is very encouraging that it says that it has been

“working with educational bodies including the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland ... Education Scotland and School Leaders Scotland”.

Could that extend to the NUS? Could the Electoral Commission enter into discussion with the NUS about a fruitful conjoined set of proposals to increase information to voters, to heighten awareness of what is necessary to register to vote and to facilitate people’s ability on polling day to cast their vote on such an important occasion?

16:24