Government and Opposition leaders rejected the suggestion that Bermuda may follow Britain's lead in lowering the age for homosexual acts from 18 to 16.

Legislators in London voted to lower the age of consent for homosexual acts from 18 to 16 last week despite church protests that the move violated the state's duty to offer "a vision of what is good''.

Premier Pamela Gordon said Government had no plans to change Bermuda's age of consent for homosexual acts.

"Eighteen is closer to being an adult than 16, and you have to be a mature individual to make that kind of decision,'' Ms Gordon said. "It is Government's responsibility to protect our children for as long as we can.

"And for what is deemed to be contrary to societal norms, 18 is a reasonable age for consent,'' she added.

Human Affairs and Development Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill said he was aware of Britain's vote, but said he was surprised by the move.

And he added that as far as Bermuda was concerned, it was a "non-issue''.

"You have to look at what is basically a God-fearing community...I'd be surprised if anyone made the suggestion,'' he stated.

And Mr. Dill said Government would not be making any moves to lower the age "in the absence of any compelling reason to do so''.

He added that it would not become a Government issue "unless and until'' there had been broad consultation with community stake holders, including the churches.

When asked if the Progressive Labour Party had any intention of putting forth legislation to lower the age restriction, Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith responded: "Certainly not.'' "This is not our issue...there are far more pressing issues on our front,'' she said.

Human Rights Commission director Major Kenneth Dill said the Commission had no plans to pursue the issue as it related to Bermudians.

Mr. Dill said sexual orientation did not fall under the banner of the Human Rights Commission.

Britain's House of Commons' 333-129 vote to make the consenting age for homosexuals the same as that for heterosexuals came three decades after gay acts between adults ceased to be a crime.

The measure pitted Prime Minister Tony Blair, who favoured the measure, against the Church of England leadership. Opinion polls indicate that most Britons opposed the measure.

The House of Lords must pass the measure before it becomes law, and there was speculation that senior Anglican prelates who sit in the unelected upper chamber may try to block it.