These school pupils said they did not feel mature enough to vote

During last year's Welsh assembly election just one in six of those under 25 paid a visit to the ballot box.

And a report by MPs on the Welsh Affairs Committee claims that lowering the voting age from 18 would help re-engage young people in democratic politics.

The report entitled The Empowering of Children and Young People in Wales, also suggests that politicians should try and engage with young people by embracing "new forms" of communication such as e-mail, the internet - and possibly text messaging.

Mature

But how is this likely to go down with teenagers? Year 12 pupils at Radyr Comprehensive School in south Wales, said they did not feel mature enough to take on the responsibility of voting.

Jessica Marley, 16, was scared at the prospect.

"If we're going to be given the responsibility then we need to be educated about politics, and we're not when we're 16," she said.

Adrian Gray is a pupil at Radyr Comprehensive School

"We have lessons where we discuss life issues, like euthanasia, but not health, education, things we're expected to know about, have opinions on, then vote on.

"It's a huge responsibility and it needs to be thought through sensibly not just suggested randomly."

The MPs are hoping that the government at Westminster will agree to the change after the current electoral commission inquiry into voting ages.

But they do admit that there are arguments against lowering the voting age - one member of Funky Dragon, the children and young people's assembly for Wales, told them he was worried about the impact of peer pressure.

Radyr pupil Adrian Gray, 17, agreed, saying that he might be inclined to vote like his friends.

"One opinionated person can persuade everyone else to do the same as them," he said.

"It's not right."

Richard Roll, a 16-year-old pupil, was even more cynical.

"This texting idea, politicians e-mailing us, what's all that about?" he said.

McDonalds

Albert Owen MP is on the committee which published the report

"It's manipulative, like schools that give kids McDonalds if they do well in exams, trying to get you on their side. And how many 16-year-olds would contact their MP?"

Albert Owen, Labour MP for Ynys Mon, is on the committee which published the report.

He pointed out that 16-year-olds worked, they paid national insurance, and so should be able to vote.

"This is a great anomaly which needs to be addressed," he said, "and if we in politics want to try and engage with young people why should be putting that trust in them, giving them the responsibility."

"I speak to young people all the time who have concerns about local issues so why can't they be given the chance to vote on them?"

But he did admit that communicating with young people was "problematic".

"I have two teenage daughters who text me. I may be a bit slow texting them back but this is a way of getting at them. We need to open ourselves up."

The electoral commission is currently examining the proposals.