§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce safeguards to protect individual disabled people over the age of 17 years, who live at home with a family member convicted of a sexual abuse offence who is likely to re-offend.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAt present, there is a specific statutory provision reflecting the needs of people with a severe mental handicap who are the subject of sexual abuse. Under the Sexual Offences Act 1957 is is an offence for a man to have sexual intercourse with a woman whom he knows or suspects to be mentally handicapped. Under the Sexual Offences Act 1967 homosexual acts with a man whom is known to be suffering severe abnormality within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1959 are also unlawful unless the offender can prove he was not aware of the fact. We have no plans for further additional statutory provisions.