§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the age of consent for both men and women in each EC country.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 28 February 1994]: The following table sets out what I understand to be the ages at which, provided there is mutual consent and no special provisions apply—see footnote—persons may legally engage in heterosexual and homosexual acts in each EC country.
Male/female Male/male Female/female Belgium 14 14 14 Denmark 115 115 115 France 15 15 15 Germany 1214 18 1214 Greece 17 17 17 Ireland 17 17 15 Italy 114 114 114 Luxembourg 16 16 16 Netherlands 116 116 116 Portugal 14 16 16 Spain 116 116 116 United Kingdom 316 21 316 1 A higher age may apply where the older person is in a position of authority, influence of trust. 2 The German parliament is preparing to debate in March draft legislation which would unify the age of consent for each category at 16. 3 Seventeen in Northern Ireland.