Clause 23 - Positions of trust
Sexual Offences Bill [Lords]
3:15 pm
Ms Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
I understand the hon. Gentleman's point about the gap-year student, but when I first read the amendment I read it as applying to someone undertaking teacher training. A person who was doing teacher training at the normal age would fit into that category. It would be bad practice for anyone who was training to be a professional to be exempt on the grounds that they did not know. The onus must be on the professional institutions to ensure that that happens. Although I can understand the scenario as
described, anyone who volunteers, which is more or less what we are talking about, must come under the same provision. Although I appreciate that this is only a probing amendment, it attacks what we are trying to do in this clause.