Votes for 16 year olds a 'significant step' says minister

Wales Office minister Baroness Randerson described the move to give the Assembly power to allow sixteen and seventeen year olds to take part in a Welsh tax referendum as a 'significant step in Welsh devolution.'

The UK Government's concession has been widely welcomed although with uncertainty over whether or not the referendum will take place, there have been concerns it could be purely symbolic.

Assembly members have previously backed moves to lower the voting age, but there's no consensus on proposals for an income tax referendum.

But Baroness Randerson told Peers that it's a power which is intended to be used.

The Wales Bill will be amended to give the Assembly the power to allow sixteen year olds to take part in an income tax referendum.