asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many males aged between 16 years and 21 years were, respectively, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned for consensual sexual acts with other males aged 16 years to 21 years in 1985; and, in the case of those imprisoned, what were the maximum, minimum and average sentences served by such men.

Information is not available in exactly the form requested. However, records available to me for England and Wales, which may be incomplete, show 10 males aged 16–20 proceeded against in 1985 for buggery or attempted buggery with another male person aged 16 or over with consent and six defendants found guilty: 42 males aged 16–20 proceeded against for indecency between males; and 43 defendants found guilty some of whom may have initially been proceeded against for a more serious offence or in a previous year. Of the 49 found guilty for these offences, two were given custodial sentences, each receiving 18 months' custody.