SEXUAL ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Early day motion 263, tabled 18 October 2001 by Helen Clark (Labour). Signed by 82 members.

That this House welcomes the Report 'Behind Closed Doors' published by Mencap, Respond and Voice UK, which draws attention to the extent of sexual abuse of adults perpetrated against people with a learning disability; expresses concern that disabled people are four times more likely to be the victim of sexual abuse than non-disabled people and that the existing legal framework does not give sufficient protection to people with a learning disability; calls on the Government to implement the recommendations in the report published by the Home Office 'Setting the Boundaries', which reviewed the law on sexual offences, and to introduce new legislation as a matter of urgency; and further calls for the introduction of a new offence for care workers of having sex with a person with a learning disability in their care and for tougher sentences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.

Signatures by party: Labour 55, Liberal Democrat 17, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 4, Scottish National Party 1.