Laws on sale of sex put on back burner

Published on Wednesday 21 April 2010 09:55

THE Scottish Government is to await the findings of an inquiry into human trafficking before any further review on prostitution, after MSPs threw out plans to criminalise selling sex.

The Scottish Parliament's justice committee rejected a bid by Labour's Trish Godman to outlaw all aspects of prostitution.

Community safety minister Fergus Ewing told the committee he favoured a more considered review, adding that Baroness Helena Kennedy has been commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland to investigate trafficking and prostitution.

He said: "Hopefully, the inquiry will reach some positive conclusions on the way forward on this matter. We should allow her to complete her inquiry and consider them carefully before we proceed further."

Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald said she had spoken to Baroness Kennedy and would be contacting her to see if she could be of any help, given her role in an expert group set up by the last Scottish Executive to look into prostitution.