§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will announce the terms of reference for their review of sexual offences. [67722]
§ Mr. StrawThe intention to review sexual offences and penalties was announced by the then Minister of State, Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), on 15 June 81W 1998, Official Report, column 10. I have today published the terms of reference of this review. Copies of a consultation leaflet describing the review, and inviting views to inform its work, have been placed in the Library.
The terms of reference of the review are:
To review the sexual offences in the common and statute law of England and Wales, and make recommendations that will:Provide coherent and clear sexual offences which protect individuals, especially children and the more vulnerable, from abuse and exploitation;Enable abusers to be appropriately punished; andBe fair and non-discriminatory in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.The review will be conducted by a Steering Group of officials from relevant Departments and expert advisers. This Group will have the benefit of advice from an External Reference Group made up of individuals and organisations with experience, expertise and opinions on a range of issues relevant to the consideration of sexual offences. The review should take about a year to complete its work and its recommendations will form the basis of a consultation paper.