Voting Age To Fall

Powers to allow young Scots to vote in future Holyrood elections will be transferred from Westminster in March.

It means 16 and 17 year olds will be able to vote in the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.

The timetable for the Section 30 Order has been agreed by the UK and Scottish Governments.

It will be brought before both Houses of the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament tomorrow and then put forward for Privy Council approval in March.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: "I'm delighted to confirm a timetable has been agreed for 16 and 17 year olds to vote in future Scottish Parliament elections.  I've always been a firm believer in votes at 16, with the sheer number of young people participating and voting in last year’s referendum I believe the case has become undeniable.

"Today marks the next phase in our commitment to people in Scotland and the start of an landmark week for the future of our country.  Later this week we will publish draft legislation ahead of Burns Night meeting our promise to bring new powers built to last for the Scottish Parliament."