HC Deb 12 July 1933 vol 280 cc1068-9
11 and 12. Miss RATHBONE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, (1) whether his attention has been directed to paragraph 182, chapter 18, of the Criminal Code Bill, 1933, for Palestine, which proposes to fix a minimum legal age for the marriage of females at 13, but to permit marriage below this age under specified conditions; whether he is aware that the proposal to fix so low a marriage age, and even then to make it subject to a wide range of exemption, is arousing dismay among many in Palestine who are anxious for the suppression of child marriage; and what action he proposes to take about it;

(2) whether he will procure the appointment of a committee in Palestine, including representatives of medical opinion and of women's opinion, to investigate and report as to the extent and effects, physical and social, of child marriage in that territory?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

My attention has already been drawn to the provision in the Palestine Criminal Code Bill to which the hon. Member refers, and I am in communication with the High Commissioner for Palestine on the subject. No final decision will be taken until the matter, including the question of appointing a local committee, has been fully considered in consultation with the High Commissioner.

13. Miss RATHBONE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will obtain and furnish the House with a return showing the minimum age of marriage and age of consent (inside and outside marriage), where these are legally prescribed, in all the Colonies and territories coming under the Colonial Office?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I am taking steps to obtain the information for which the hon. Member asks. It will necessarily take some time to collect.

Colonel CLIFTON BROWN

What is meant by the words "inside and outside marriage" in the question?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I think my hon. and gallant Friend should address that question to the hon. Lady the Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone), who has put the question on the Paper.

Miss RATHBONE

Is it not a well-known fact that the term "age of consent" refers not only to the age of consent of unmarried girls, but also refers sometimes to consummation of marriage in the case of married girls?