Men convicted under historical laws expected to receive full pardon

FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON will make an apology in parliament on behalf of the Scottish Government for historical discriminatory laws against sexual activity between men, to coincide with the publication of legislation which will grant an automatic pardon to those who were convicted.

The draft Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Bill, to be published on 7 November, will provide pardons relating to now legal activities for which people were convicted until as recently as 2001.