HC Deb 23 March 1971 vol 814 c83W
33. Mr. David James

asked the Attorney-General whether, as children can have sexual intercourse at 16 years of age, remain the responsibility of their parents till 18 years of age, have their incomes aggregated with their parents' till 21 years of age, and as their higher education remains a parental charge, even if they are married, under the age of 25, he will introduce legislation to delineate clearly when a parent's responsibility ends.

The Attorney-General

It is correct that the present law permits different age limits in differing circumstances. But if my hon. Friend is proposing that there should be a single age at which full capacity and independence begins for all purposes, I would not agree that that would be in the interest of children or parents.

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