INTRODUCTION
1. The Scottish Government seeks the views of consultees on the recommendations contained in the Scottish Law Commission's (SLC) report on Rape and Sexual Offences. The consultation period runs from 19 December 2007 to 14 March 2008.
2. In addition to seeking your views on the specific recommendations contained in the SLC's report, we would also welcome any general comments you have on either the report or the accompanying draft Bill which the SLC have produced.
3. The SLC published a discussion paper seeking comments on its emerging proposals for reform of the law on rape and sexual offences in January 2006. While the SLC's thinking on a number of specific issues has altered from what was put forward in their discussion paper, we appreciate that many of the recommendations contained in their final report mirror those in their earlier discussion paper. The SLC has not, however, published these responses. If you or your organisation wish to do so please feel free to submit to us your original response to the SLC, and we will publish it alongside your response to this consultation.
4. Further copies of this document can be obtained by
· contacting the Sex Offences Bill Team on 0131 244 4210
· or e-mailing sexoffenceslaw@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
5. The Scottish Law Commission's report is available online at http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/html/reports.html#r209
Their earlier discussion paper is also available at http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/downloads/dp131_rape.pdf
6. Please send your response and comments to:
Rape and Sexual Offences Consultation
Room GW15
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Or by email to sexoffenceslaw@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Please complete the details on the respondent information form at the end of this document and return it with your response. An electronic version is available as above. This will help ensure we handle your response appropriately. Thank you for your help.