text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Sexual Offences (Pardons Etc) Bill
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority of MPs taking part voted to curtail debate on the Sexual Offences (Pardons etc) Bill[1] and move to a vote.  
  
  MPs were considering a Bill to pardon men convicted or cautioned in the past for consensual homosexual acts which are now legal. The specific offences in respect of which the Bill would provide pardons were:
   
  * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/12 section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buggery buggery]), 
  * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/13 (b) section 13 of that Act (gross indecency between men)],
  * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/32 (c) section 32 of that Act (solicitation by men)], or
  * (d) [http://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Offences_against_the_Person_Act_1861#Sexual_offences section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labouchere_Amendment section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885] (corresponding earlier offences)
  
  The Bill would restrict pardons to cases where the other person involved in the conduct constituting the offence was over 16 years old and consented to it. Other exemptions to pardons provided for by the Bill were conduct which would be an offence under [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/71 section 71 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual activity in a public lavatory)]. Only conduct which would not be an offence on the date the Act comes into force would be pardoned. 
  
  The majority of MPs taking part supported the motion:
  
  : That the Question be now put.
  
  
  The debate was not curtailed, and the question under consideration (That the Bill be now read a Second time) was not put to MPs. An explanation was provided in Hansard as follows:
  
  :The Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided in the affirmative because fewer than 100 Members voted in the majority in support of the motion ([http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmstords/0002/body.htm#37 Standing Order No. 37]).
  
  
  Had the majority of MPs agreed the Bill should be read a second time it could have made progress to becoming law. 
  
  No vote on the second reading was subsequently held that day as the debate continued up to the threshold of 2.30pm as set by [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmstords/0002/body.htm#11(2)(b)](Standing Order No. 11(2)(b))]
  
  
  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/sexualoffencespardonsetc.html Parliament's webpage on the Sexual Offences (Pardons Etc.) Bill 2016-17]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  