§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1988 how many men aged between 16 and 21 years were convicted for consenting homosexual acts with other males in England and Wales; and, in the cases of those convicted and receiving custodial sentences, what were the durations of those sentences in each individual case.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 5 March 1990]: Information is not available centrally on the number of males of 16 or over but under 21 who are convicted for the offences of buggery and attempted buggery with another male with his consent. In England and Wales in 1988 68 males of 16 or over but under 21 were convicted for an act of gross indecency with another male, of whom none received a custodial sentence.