HC Deb 16 July 1991 vol 195 cc118-9W
Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what date he expects homosexual activity to be decriminalised in the Isle of Man;

(2) what consultations have taken place with the Isle of Man Government over the wording of the Sexual Offences Bill currently before Tynwald; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will make a statement on the consequences of the action of the Manx Parliament in amending the Sexual Offences Bill to remove clauses decriminalising homosexual activity on the Isle of Man.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The Isle of Man Government sent the Home Office drafts of its Sexual Offences Bill, including clauses providing for the decriminalisation of homosexual activity between consenting adults in private, as part of the usual consultative procedures. The Bill remains subject to possible amendment in Tynwald, where consideration is expected to resume after the island's general election in November.

If the island were demonstrably to refuse or to fail to amend its law satisfactorily, Her Majesty's Government would have no alternative but to introduce the requisite legislation in Parliament at the earliest suitable opportunity.