Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Defences available to persons who are under age — 1 Mar 1999

As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

(a) in subsection (1), after the words "subsection (1A)" there shall be inserted the words "or (1AA)";

(b) in subsection (1A), after the word "circumstances" there shall be inserted the word "first"; and

(c) after that subsection there shall be inserted the following subsection--

"(1AA) The other circumstances so referred to are that the person is under the age of sixteen and the other person has attained that age."

(2) In section 13 of that Act (indecency between men)--

(a) after the words "another man", in the first place where they occur, there shall be inserted the words "otherwise than in the circumstances described below"; and

(b) at the end there shall be inserted the following paragraph--

"The circumstances referred to above are that the man is under the age of sixteen and the other man has attained that age."

(3) In subsection (1) of section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967--

(a) the words from "a homosexual act" to the end shall become paragraph (a); and

(b) after that paragraph there shall be inserted the words "and

(b) a homosexual act by any person shall not be an offence if he is under the age of sixteen years and the other party has attained that age."

(4) In section 13 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, after subsection (8) there shall be inserted the following subsection--

"(8A) A person under the age of sixteen years does not commit an offence under subsection (5)(a) or (c) above if he commits or is party to the commission of a homosexual act with a person who has attained that age."

(5) In paragraph (1) of Article 3 of the Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982--

(a) the words from "a homosexual act" to the end shall become sub-paragraph (a); and

(b) after that sub-paragraph there shall be inserted the words "and

(b) a homosexual act by any person shall not be an offence if he is under the age of seventeen years and the other party has attained that age.".'-- [Mr. Boateng.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

1 Mar 1999 : Column 755

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:--

The House divided: Ayes 274, Noes 64.

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (Aye)Minority (No)BothTurnout
Con5 55 (+2 tell)038.3%
Independent0 10100.0%
Lab247 (+2 tell) 6161.4%
LDem18 0039.1%
PC1 0025.0%
SNP2 0033.3%
UUP0 1010.0%
Total:273 63152.8%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote

NameConstituencyPartyVote
James ClappisonHertsmereCon (front bench)aye
David CurrySkipton and RiponConaye
Douglas HoggSleaford and North HykehamConaye
Eleanor LaingEpping ForestCon (front bench)aye
Sir Peter LloydFarehamConaye
Mr Donald AndersonSwansea EastLab (minister)no
Mr Jamie CannIpswichLabno
Mr Eric ClarkeMidlothianLabno
Mr Bill O'BrienNormantonLabno
Mr Kerry PollardSt AlbansLabno
Mr Raymond PowellOgmoreLabno
Mr Allan RogersRhonddaLabboth

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