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Sex law supported despite worries | Sex law supported despite worries |
(20 minutes later) | |
Holyrood's justice committee has expressed concern at plans to criminalise girls having sex under the age of 16. | Holyrood's justice committee has expressed concern at plans to criminalise girls having sex under the age of 16. |
Boys aged 13 to 15 who engage in consensual sex with girls of the same age can be prosecuted - but it is rare. | Boys aged 13 to 15 who engage in consensual sex with girls of the same age can be prosecuted - but it is rare. |
Holyrood's justice committee said it had "difficulty" with proposals to treat young teenage girls the same way. | Holyrood's justice committee said it had "difficulty" with proposals to treat young teenage girls the same way. |
But MSPs still gave initial backing to the Sexual Offences Bill, which will bring in a range of measures. | But MSPs still gave initial backing to the Sexual Offences Bill, which will bring in a range of measures. |
The legislation, which still needs the approval of the full parliament before becoming law, also aims to define rape more clearly and include the offence of "date rape". | |
We are keen to consider with the parliament any ways in which the legislation can be improved Scottish Government spokesman | |
The cross-party committee agreed with the principles of the bill and strongly supported keeping the age of consent at 16. | The cross-party committee agreed with the principles of the bill and strongly supported keeping the age of consent at 16. |
But convener Bill Aitken, Tory MSP for Glasgow, said more clarification from the government was needed. | But convener Bill Aitken, Tory MSP for Glasgow, said more clarification from the government was needed. |
He added: "We have a difficulty with the proposal that the law should criminalise underage girls who run the risk of becoming pregnant, with all the legal implications that might follow. | He added: "We have a difficulty with the proposal that the law should criminalise underage girls who run the risk of becoming pregnant, with all the legal implications that might follow. |
"These matters are of course for the discretion of the lord advocate but we generally favour a welfare approach though the Children's Hearing System for all cases of underage consensual sexual activity." | "These matters are of course for the discretion of the lord advocate but we generally favour a welfare approach though the Children's Hearing System for all cases of underage consensual sexual activity." |
The committee also supported the creation of a new statutory offence of rape with an object. | The committee also supported the creation of a new statutory offence of rape with an object. |
Ministers agreed to carefully consider the recommendations of the committee, which has taken evidence from a range of groups on the legislation. | |
"We should recognise that all those organisations were contributing and share our aim of seeking the most effective law for Scotland as a community," said a Scottish Government spokesman. | |
"We are keen to consider with the parliament any ways in which the legislation can be improved and to ensure the bill produces what we all want - a modern, effective legal framework for sexual offences in Scotland." |
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