A Bill to make provision for the pardoning, or otherwise setting aside, of cautions and convictions for specified sexual offences that have now been abolished; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
3 May 2017
The Sexual Offences (Pardons Etc.) Bill would create a process to pardon or otherwise set aside old cautions and convictions for certain sexual offences that have since been abolished. It aims to clear these historical records for people involved and to put in place the necessary mechanisms for doing so.
The bill is at the second reading stage in the Commons; if it progresses, it would move to further stages such as committee and report before becoming law.
The closure motion for the second reading was carried 57 votes in favour and 0 against. Party positions show support from Labour (Co-op) MPs and the SNP, with some other groups recorded as mixed.
Generated 21 February 2026
Based on 1 recorded vote • Sorted by % Aye
This Bill was expected to resume its second reading debate on Friday 20 January 2017.
However, as a General Election has now been called and Parliament will be dissolved from 3 May 2017, the Bill falls and no further action will be taken.