This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18498858#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New law on prostitution proposed at Scottish Parliament | New law on prostitution proposed at Scottish Parliament |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Proposals that would make it an offence to pay for sex are to be considered by the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee. | |
| Labour MSP Rhoda Grant believes her members bill, if it is allowed to progress, would reduce demand for prostitution. | Labour MSP Rhoda Grant believes her members bill, if it is allowed to progress, would reduce demand for prostitution. |
| The bill would criminalise those who use prostitutes. | The bill would criminalise those who use prostitutes. |
| A similar proposal in 2010 was opposed by ministers, who feared it would push the sex trade underground. | A similar proposal in 2010 was opposed by ministers, who feared it would push the sex trade underground. |
| Critics of such legislation believe that making workers in the sex trade less visible to the authorities would place them in greater danger. | Critics of such legislation believe that making workers in the sex trade less visible to the authorities would place them in greater danger. |
| But Ms Grant said that it could tackle the serious criminal activity associated with prostitution. | |
| She said: "What it does is recognised that women who are involved in prostitution are indeed victims. | |
| "It also puts the onus on the people that purchase that service to realise that they are dealing with people who are vulnerable and are victims, and they need to take responsibility for their own actions." |