KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has welcomed a move which will see the pardoning of hundreds of men in Northern Ireland convicted for consensual same-sex relationships.
Men prosecuted or cautioned before the law change can apply to have their names cleared, following a Lords amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill.
The legislation, recently passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly, will remove any mention of an offence from criminal record checks.
Mr Hopkins, a Northern Ireland Office minister, said: "It is hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today.
"While respecting that this is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, both the Secretary of State and I voted in support of equal marriage in England and Wales in 2013 and will continue to advocate LGBT equality issues across the UK.
"This amendment is an important milestone for tolerance and equality in the province and I welcome it unreservedly."
Mr Hopkins has held discussions with Ruth Hunt, chief executive of equality campaign group Stonewall.
The talks followed a meeting in Belfast with leading figures from the Rainbow Project to debate issues of concern to LGBT people.
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