BRECON and Radnorshire's Welsh Assembly Member, Kirsty Williams, experienced keen questioning recently from pupils at Gwernyfed High School on a range of issues, as part of initiatives she is taking part in to help celebrate the centenary of some women gaining the right to vote in the UK.

The round-table discussion with 15-18 year olds also covered the issue of lowering the voting to age to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote, something the Welsh Government has already announced it will enact for local council elections, which Kirsty says 'should be extended by the UK Government to cover all elections, including General Elections and Welsh Assembly Elections.'

After the meeting Kirsty said "There were some really testing questions and I was so impressed by these admirable young women's interest, impeccable manners and all-round knowledge. Young people never cease to amaze and delight me."

"There was general agreement that lowering the voting age for all young people to 16 is a good and long-overdue change but that, despite the progress that has been made in the last 100 years since some women first got the vote, there is still much more to do to enable more women to play a greater role in our politics."

"I shall continue to press for an enhanced role for women in all aspects of public life and for extending the voting age to give young people whom we consider old enough to marry, have children, work and pay income tax the same rights to influence the decisions government makes that have such an influence on their lives."