Policing and Crime Bill

The noble Baroness could say that Clause 13 has received something of a rough ride already. I could make a long contribution but I take the point made by the noble Baronesses, Lady Miller and Lady Hanham, about returning to this on Report so that the Committee might make some progress. I shall therefore restrict my comments to saying that I acknowledge that some people freely choose to sell sex. I also know that many involved in prostitution have little choice about their involvement and would leave it if they could. We cannot ignore them and we must do all that we can to protect these victims of exploitation and abuse. I hope that the Committee can accept the important principle that coercion and threats of a non-physical nature could become a definition of exploitative conduct. I shall not rehearse the discussion we had on strict liability, but I hope that we can make progress and not divide today on the Question of Clause 13 standing part of the Bill. Clause 13, as amended, agreed. Clause 14 : Paying for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc: Northern Ireland Amendments 56 and 57 not moved.