The Church of Scotland today added its voice to calls for children to be consulted before changes are made to sex laws.

The Church of Scotland today added its voice to calls for children to be consulted before changes are made to sex laws.

The Kirk has previously indicated under-16s should not be criminalised for having sex.

But a spokesman today said its view might change after evidence emerged that some young people find the threat of legal consequences helpful in forming decisions about sex.

The Reverend Graham Blount, Scottish Churches parliamentary officer, appeared before the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee as part of an investigation into the proposed Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, launched in June.

The Rev Blount said further consultation should be carried out.

"We do believe that would be something useful before any of this Bill is passed," he said.

Last week, Children's Commissioner Kathleen Marshall said it was "fascinating" that adults were prepared to legislate without consulting children.

And the charity Children 1st told the committee that young people had strong views on laws affecting their lives.

These included the use of the age of consent against peer pressure.

The Rev Blount was asked if under-16s should be criminalised for having sex.

He said: "That might be an area in which there's a possibility of the Church's view being changed.

"If what Children 1st found with conversation with a relatively small number of children proved to be widespread then that would give us at the very least pause for thought."

Charitable organisation the Christian Institute warned the committee that children should not "dictate" the law to adults.

Head of research David Greatorex told MSPs: "While we would consult children on their views, we would hesitate to give too much weight to them.

"Criminal laws have an advisory role to them to regulate their conduct and we would hesitate to allow them to dictate what a regulation should be."

The committee also heard today from gender equality groups on wider implications of the proposed Bill.

They broadly welcome plans to remove gender differences under rape laws.