Anti-social Behaviour Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 6:30 pm on 3 November 2003.

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Photo of Lord Dixon-Smith Lord Dixon-Smith Conservative 6:30, 3 November 2003

My Lords, Amendment No. 98 reiterates a series of arguments that I made at the beginning of the afternoon on whether 18—in this instance—is the age at which sense arrives and therefore is the age at which one is allowed to buy an aerosol spray can of paint. I do not intend to reiterate the arguments I used at the beginning of the afternoon because that should be superfluous.

The fact is that at the age of 16 one can do so many things which are characteristic of an adult. The Bill proposes that one must be 18 to purchase an aerosol spray can of paint and it makes it an offence for a retailer to sell one to anyone below that age. I cannot accept that that is reasonable. Therefore, I have tabled the amendment to change that age to 16, at which point all my earlier arguments apply. I beg to move.