Age of Consent

HC Deb 11 March 1976 vol 907 cc614-6

18. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Responsible Society on the question of the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual relationships, respectively.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

This society, in a written memorandum of evidence to the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences, has expressed the view that the present ages of consent for sexual intercourse and homosexual acts should remain unchanged.

Mr. McCrindle

Is it at least as much the responsibility of the Home Secretary to protect the very young from experiences which may have a lasting effect upon them as it is to try to maintain, as far as possible, that this sort of relationship should remain outside the scope of the law? On balance, does the hon. Member agree that we might do well to leave well alone?

Mr. Lyon

In the final analysis it is the responsibility of the House to draw that line. The House will have the opportunity of making a judgment in the light of a report from a very distinguished committee which is widely representative of all sections of opinion. I hope that when the report is produced the House will find its recommendations acceptable.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Does my hon. Friend agree that, whatever the age of consent, the Sex Discrimination Act should apply in this sphere as elsewhere? In other words, if my hon. Friend does not get me clearly——

Mr. Speaker

I think that we have it.

Mr. Lyon

I think that I have my hon. Friend clearly: I think that he is saying that the age of consent for men should be the same as for women. There is some difference of opinion about that. I menitioned an opinion at an earlier stage and it was highly controversial. It was much resented by the Homosexual Law Reform Society. This is an issue for the advisory committee, and we await its report.

Mr. Stokes

Does the hon. Gentleman condemn the recent statement of the so- called National Council for Civil Liberties on this issue? Is he aware that that body is totally unrepresentative of public opinion in this country?

Mr. Lyon

Not for the first time, the hon. Gentleman arrogates to himself the right to say what is public opinion.

Mr. Stokes

I know more than the Minister.

Mr. Lyon

The hon. Gentleman may well be right. In the final analysis, none of us can be absolutely certain about what public opinion is really saying on an issue as complex as this. What we can do is to appoint the committee to consider representations from different bodies of opinion and to make a judgment.