Clause 7 - Assault of a child under 13 by penetration

Part of Sexual Offences Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:15 am on 11 September 2003.

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Photo of Paul Goggins Paul Goggins Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office 10:15, 11 September 2003

I did say that I would reflect on the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow—and now of the hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) as well—and after a little time for reflection, I am able to respond by saying this: the Director of Public Prosecutions can take over private prosecutions, and can discontinue them. After advice, it appears that this route would not open up scenarios of the type that were put to me by the hon. Member for Bromsgrove and my hon. Friend.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.