House of Lords written question – answered am ar 23 Hydref 2009.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon
Independent Labour
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from Professor John Spencer and Mr Peter Tatchell or from other sources to reduce the age of sexual consent from 16 years; and, if so, what is their reaction.
Lord Bach
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
The Government have not received any representations from Professor John Spencer or Mr Peter Tatchell to reduce the age of sexual consent from 16 years.
Issues surrounding the age of sexual consent were fully considered as part of the Setting the Boundaries consultation prior to the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and subsequently during the passage of the legislation. The Government consider that the current age of consent is at the right level and have no plans to lower it.
Yes1 person thinks so
No1 person thinks not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
