NHS Lanarkshire has been criticised after it published advice for children as young as 13 telling them that 'it is okay' to have sex.
A web page on the health board's website, titled 'sex and the law' tells 13 to 15-year-olds it is legal in Scotland for men and women to have sex once they are over 16 years of age.
It then adds it is “highly unlikely” they will get into trouble for having underage sex, as long as there is not a big age gap and both consent.
It reads: “You will not get into trouble by talking to a doctor, nurse or someone else in a sexual health clinic if you are having sex, thinking about having sex or accessing contraception before you are 16.”
A Roman Catholic Church spokesman said the health board should be investigated by police “as it appears to constitute an incitement to commit a criminal offence”.
Simon Calvert, depute director of The Christian Institute, described the advice as a “serious child protection failure”.
The Scottish Tories spokeswoman for children and young people, Meghan Gallacher, said: “When uncertainty is created around areas like the legal age of consent, it confuses youngsters and presents opportunities for those who would seek to harm vulnerable children.”
Kerri Todd, NHS Lanarkshire’s head of health improvement, said the advice “clearly states that the legal age of sexual activity is 16 and that any sexual activity with someone in the 13-15 age group is against the law”.
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