Written question asked by Helen Jones (Labour) on Monday, 2 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 November 1998. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Monday, 9 November 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the Indecency with Children Act 1960 to protect those between the ages of 14 and 16 years.

Answer: Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the Indecency with Children Act 1960 to protect those between the ages of 14 and 16 years. [58310] Mr. Boateng: The Government are concerned to ensure that children are protected from all kinds of sexual abuse. The law provides protection against sexual abuse of all kind. The Indecency with Children Act 1960 relates to gross indecency with or towards a child under the age of 14, or inciting a child to commit such an act; the maximum penalty for this offence has recently been increased to ten years. We recognise that the law on sexual offences contains many anomalies, and the differing ages at which children are protected from various kinds of unacceptable behaviour is one such anomaly. That is why we have said that we will be conducting a review of sex offences to consider all such offences, and this will be one issue we will consider. One of the principal aims of the review will be to ensure that the legal framework, as far as possible, protects children and deals effectively with those who use and abuse them.

Secondary information