Too young to vote?

The Electoral Commission has conducted a year long review into lowering the voting age.

You can die for your country at 16. So why can't you choose the Government that sends you to fight?

That's one of the questions that's been addressed by the Electoral Commission, which has been considering whether the voting age should be reduced from 18 to 16.

The commission will report on Monday - a report eagerly awaited by those who are agitating for the change.

The campaign manager of Votes for 16 is Alex Folkes. How confident is he that the electoral commission will share his view that sixteen year olds should get the vote?

Click here to listen to our interview

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The traditional pint and a smoke ended in March in Ireland

Now, who's interested in the opportunity to buy many thousands of second hand ash trays?

First, it was New York. Then, came Ireland. Will Britain soon follow with a total ban on smoking in pubs, bars, restaurants and other public places?

This week the House of Lords will debate a ban on smoking in any building - except for designated areas. The Scottish Parliament is considering tough restrictions on smoking. Ministers at Westminster look on warily.

Though sympathetic to the health arguments for imposing smoking bans, they are nervous of being portrayed as over-bearing agents of a nanny state.

Perhaps they are mindful of the French experience. Smoking bans there were so widely flouted they had to be abandoned. Our political correspondent Jonathan Beale reports.

Click here to listen to Jonathan Beale's report