Chamber
Plenary, 17 Mar 2005
17 Mar 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am sorry, but I must move on.
The order will require the offender to stay away from the people or places that are associated with previous offending or, for example, from the internet if they used that method to access victims or unlawful pornography.
The time that remains to me is short, but I want to mention one further issue. As the Justice 1 Committee is aware, we propose to lodge amendments to the bill that will further extend the protection of our children from the risk of sexual harm. We propose that the current statutory offences in relation to indecent photographs of children under the age of 16 are extended so that they cover teenagers up to the age of 18.
Although we recognise that 16 and 17-year-olds have the right to carry on sexual relationships, we are also aware that at that age young people are vulnerable to exploitation. We are determined to do all that we can to protect our young people from those who would seek to abuse and exploit them.
For those reasons, we propose new offences in relation to purchasing sexual services from children under 18. That will mean that those who use or seek to use child prostitutes, or who otherwise seek to exploit young people by paying for or rewarding sexual acts, will be committing an offence. Those proposals are part of a package of measures that the Executive is putting in place to protect our children more generally. Our proposed amendments will also bring us into line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and with the requirements of European law.
I commend the members of the Justice 1 Committee for their work in gathering evidence and getting to grips with some of the difficult issues in the bill. I know that we all share the objective of strengthening the law in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice that are associated with Scots law, while at the same time providing the strongest protection for our children. I believe that the bill will achieve that objective.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
The order will require the offender to stay away from the people or places that are associated with previous offending or, for example, from the internet if they used that method to access victims or unlawful pornography.
The time that remains to me is short, but I want to mention one further issue. As the Justice 1 Committee is aware, we propose to lodge amendments to the bill that will further extend the protection of our children from the risk of sexual harm. We propose that the current statutory offences in relation to indecent photographs of children under the age of 16 are extended so that they cover teenagers up to the age of 18.
Although we recognise that 16 and 17-year-olds have the right to carry on sexual relationships, we are also aware that at that age young people are vulnerable to exploitation. We are determined to do all that we can to protect our young people from those who would seek to abuse and exploit them.
For those reasons, we propose new offences in relation to purchasing sexual services from children under 18. That will mean that those who use or seek to use child prostitutes, or who otherwise seek to exploit young people by paying for or rewarding sexual acts, will be committing an offence. Those proposals are part of a package of measures that the Executive is putting in place to protect our children more generally. Our proposed amendments will also bring us into line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and with the requirements of European law.
I commend the members of the Justice 1 Committee for their work in gathering evidence and getting to grips with some of the difficult issues in the bill. I know that we all share the objective of strengthening the law in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice that are associated with Scots law, while at the same time providing the strongest protection for our children. I believe that the bill will achieve that objective.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-2353, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, on the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Sco...
The Minister for Justice (Cathy Jamieson):
Lab
There is no doubt that any offence that involves harm being done to a child is despicable, but it is hard to imagine anything more despicable than sexual off...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Evidence from the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, or possibly it was from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, raised the co...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
A number of issues are involved, including the definitions of a child and an adult. We will come to those issues during the debate and when we examine the bi...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con):
Con
Will the minister give way?
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
I am sorry, but I must move on.The order will require the offender to stay away from the people or places that are associated with previous offending or, for...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
The Scottish National Party will support the general principles of the bill at decision time. A reading of the introduction to the bill leads me to say that ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con):
Con
A number of times when a bill has been introduced, I have questioned its value or opposed it outright on the grounds that it is unnecessary or counterproduct...
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
As I joined the Justice 1 Committee only recently, my comments will be largely from my viewpoint.It is, first and foremost, in the interests of society to ca...
Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. Unfortunately, there are people who are using the opportunities that ...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
This is tricky legislation to get right. The definition in section 1 uses the phrase "having met or communicated", but it seems to me that the debate is circ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
I call Pauline McNeill, who will be followed by Jeremy Purvis. I apologise. I call Annabel Goldie, who will be followed by Pauline McNeill.
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Pauline McNeill's fright was nothing compared to mine.It has been said that the Conservative party welcomes the general principles of the bill. In an increas...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I begin by thanking the Justice 1 Committee, the clerks, the bill team and the Deputy Minister for Justice for the work that they have all done in putting to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
You have one minute.
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
The age question was a very difficult issue for the committee. As it stands, the bill will apply to persons aged 18 and over. The committee recommended that ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
You must wind up now, Ms McNeill.
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
As Mary Mulligan said, it is not helpful to compare an RSHO with an ASBO, given the massive stigma that will be attached to the former. We must get right the...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
As my colleague Jamie Stone said, the Liberal Democrats will support the general principles of the bill. In my view, the sober nature of this afternoon's deb...
Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the bill. The legislation is overdue and the SNP will certainly support the bill's general principles this evening. Although other members have cov...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the debate on the general principles of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. Like members who have spoken ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
All of us in the chamber recognise the importance of getting child protection right. The minister used the word "despicable" earlier in the debate to describ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
We move to winding-up speeches and I call Jamie Stone. Mr Stone, you have a tight four minutes.
Mr Stone:
LD
I rise to speak for the second time this afternoon. The minister rightly pointed to the emotional damage that is done to children and, correctly, flagged up ...
Members:
Cheese!
Mr Stone:
LD
I remember, as a wee boy, sitting in our knackered—is that parliamentary language? Perhaps not. I remember sitting in our battered old van when, suddenly and...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
The debate is predicated—as, indeed, is the legislation—on the basic concept that the abuse and exploitation of children for sexual purposes are abhorrent to...
Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The debate has shown that, although the bill is relatively short, it impacts on a wide and complex range of issues. As the stage 1 report points out, the com...
The Deputy Minister for Justice (Hugh Henry):
Lab
The encouraging part of today's debate was the will that exists across Parliament for further measures to be taken to give added protection to young people, ...
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Briefly, please. You have about another minute, minister.