HC Deb 12 March 1991 vol 187 c480W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years;

(2) what factors were taken into account in deciding to establish the age of criminal responsibility at 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

We have no plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility. It was raised from eight years to its present level of 10 years by the Children and Young Persons Act 1963.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is giving any consideration to changing the age of criminal responsibility to fall into line with other European member states after 1992.

Mr. John Patten

The arrangements for dealing with young offenders differ between the member states of the European Community. There is no common age of criminal responsibility.

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