Clause 23 - Positions of trust
Sexual Offences Bill [Lords]
3:15 pm
Mr Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wythenshawe and Sale East, Labour)
With his great experience, my hon. Friend makes an interesting observation that we may return to on Report. We want to ensure that all eventualities are covered in the Bill. I hope that he is satisfied with that assurance.
The categories of persons that we have identified can all play important roles in a child's life, and they have sufficient power and influence to justify inclusion within the scope of the offences. I trust that hon. Members agree, and I can advise them that the consideration of including additional categories is ongoing. With hon. Members' forbearance, we will return to the matter on Report. Amendments Nos. 207, 208 and 209 define the terms care order, supervision order and educational supervision order for the purposes of the offences.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendments made: No. 208, in
clause 23, page 11, line 33, at end insert—
'() This subsection applies if A, as a person who is to report to the court under section 7 of the Children Act 1989 (c.41) or Article 4 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) on matters relating to the welfare of B, regularly has unsupervised contact with B alone (whether face to face or by any other means).'.
No. 209, in
clause 23, page 11, line 39, at end insert—
'() This subsection applies if—
(a) B is subject to a care order, a supervision order or an education supervision order, and
(b) in the exercise of functions conferred by virtue of the order on an authorised person or the authority designated by the order, A looks after B on an individual basis.
() This subsection applies if A—
(a) is an officer of the Service appointed for B under section 41(1) of the Children Act 1989 (c.41),
(b) is appointed a children's guardian of B under rule 6 or rule 18 of the Adoption Rules 1984 (S.I. 1984/265), or
(c) is appointed to be the guardian ad litem of B under rule 9.5 of the Family Proceedings Rules 1991 (S.I.1991/1247) or under Article 60(1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)),
and, in that capacity, regularly has unsupervised contact with B alone (whether face to face or by any other means).'.—[Paul Goggins.]
Clause 23, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.