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New Clause 5

Age at which homosexual acts are lawful

.--(1) In section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 (amendment of law relating to homosexual acts in private), for "twenty-one" in both places where it occurs there is substituted "eighteen".

(2) In section 80 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 (homosexual offences), for "twenty-one" in each place where it occurs there is substituted "eighteen".

(3) This section shall come into force on the date this Act is passed.'.-- [Sir Anthony Durant.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time :

The Committee divided : Ayes 427, Noes 162.

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Column 120

Division No. 137] [10.37 pm

AYES

Adams, Mrs Irene

Ainger, Nick

Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey)

Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE)

Aitken, Jonathan

Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby)

Allen, Graham

Alton, David

Amess, David

Anderson, Donald (Swansea E)

Arbuthnot, James

Armstrong, Hilary

Arnold, Sir Thomas (Hazel Grv)

Ashby, David

Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy

Ashton, Joe

Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E)

Austin-Walker, John

Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley)

Baldry, Tony

Banks, Robert (Harrogate)

Banks, Tony (Newham NW)

Barnes, Harry

Barron, Kevin

Batiste, Spencer

Battle, John

Bayley, Hugh

Beckett, Rt Hon Margaret

Beith, Rt Hon A. J.

Bell, Stuart

Bellingham, Henry

Benn, Rt Hon Tony

Bennett, Andrew F.

Berry, Dr. Roger

Biffen, Rt Hon John

Blair, Tony

Blunkett, David

Boateng, Paul

Body, Sir Richard

Boswell, Tim

Bottomley, Peter (Eltham)

Bottomley, Rt Hon Virginia

Bowden, Andrew

Bowis, John

Boyes, Roland

Bradley, Keith

Brandreth, Gyles

Bray, Dr Jeremy

Brown, Gordon (Dunfermline E)

Brown, M. (Brigg & Cl'thorpes)

Brown, N. (N'c'tle upon Tyne E)

Browning, Mrs. Angela

Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon)

Burns, Simon

Burt, Alistair

Butler, Peter

Butterfill, John

Byers, Stephen

Caborn, Richard

Callaghan, Jim

Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)

Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE)

Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V)

Campbell-Savours, D. N.

Canavan, Dennis

Cann, Jamie

Carlile, Alexander (Montgomry)

Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

Carrington, Matthew

Channon, Rt Hon Paul

Chapman, Sydney

Chisholm, Malcolm

Clapham, Michael

Clappison, James

Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

Clarke, Eric (Midlothian)

Clarke, Rt Hon Kenneth (Ruclif)

Clarke, Tom (Monklands W)

Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey

Coe, Sebastian

Coffey, Ann

Cohen, Harry

Colvin, Michael

Congdon, David

Connarty, Michael

Conway, Derek

Cook, Frank (Stockton N)

Cook, Robin (Livingston)

Coombs, Anthony (Wyre For'st)

Coombs, Simon (Swindon)

Cope, Rt Hon Sir John

Corbyn, Jeremy

Corston, Ms Jean

Couchman, James

Cox, Tom

Cryer, Bob

Cummings, John

Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE)

Cunningham, Rt Hon Dr John

Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire)

Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon)

Dafis, Cynog

Dalyell, Tam

Darling, Alistair

Davidson, Ian

Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral)

Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

Davies, Quentin (Stamford)

Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'l)

Denham, John

Deva, Nirj Joseph

Dewar, Donald

Dixon, Don

Dobson, Frank

Donohoe, Brian H.

Dorrell, Stephen

Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James

Dowd, Jim

Duncan, Alan

Dunn, Bob

Durant, Sir Anthony

Eagle, Ms Angela

Eastham, Ken

Eggar, Tim

Elletson, Harold

Emery, Rt Hon Sir Peter

Enright, Derek

Etherington, Bill

Evans, John (St Helens N)

Ewing, Mrs Margaret

Faber, David

Fabricant, Michael

Fatchett, Derek

Field, Barry (Isle of Wight)

Field, Frank (Birkenhead)

Fishburn, Dudley

Fisher, Mark

Flynn, Paul

Forsyth, Michael (Stirling)

Forth, Eric

Foster, Rt Hon Derek

Foster, Don (Bath)

Foulkes, George

Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman

Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring)

Fraser, John

Fyfe, Maria

Galbraith, Sam

Gapes, Mike

Garel-Jones, Rt Hon Tristan

Garnier, Edward

Garrett, John

George, Bruce

Gerrard, Neil

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