The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett): With permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement on the reform of the laws on sex offences and offending.

Announcement of the Government proposals to modernise Victorian laws on sex offences to provide a clear, coherent and effective set of laws that increase protection, enable the appropriate punishment of abusers and ensure the law is fair and non-discriminatory. It also details a package of measures to tighten the requirements of the sex offenders' register, improve monitoring of offenders and build in new safeguards against evasion.

Official government site with links to their publications.

Official site includes the review documents that were published for consultation on sex offenders and sexual offences, Government and non-Government responses to the Reviews, 'Protecting the Public', the paper setting out the reforms the Government intends to make through the Sexual Offences Bill, the text of the Bill, and details of its progress through Parliament, speeches which Ministers have made on the Bill, press releases, FAQ and links to other useful sites. Details of how to contact the Bill team

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made in another place.

Official Act from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.