§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases relating to the sexual abuse of children were proceeded against in Scotland in each of the last five years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIt is impossible to identify all of the cases of sexual abuse where children were involved because the Scottish Office Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences does not contain information on the victims of crime. The table lists those sexual offences within the classification which by definition involve persons aged under 16.
605W
Persons proceeded against in Scottish courts where the main crime was sexual abuse of persons aged under 16 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Lewd and Libidinous Practices1 222 226 218 200 186 Intercourse with girl under 13 7 6 9 2 7 Intercourse with girl between 13 and 16 100 105 110 95 65 Causing or encouraging seduction, prostitution of a girl under 16 3 — 1 — — Total 332 337 338 297 258 1 Includes section 5 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976.